Sumaiya Nepali, one of the students supported by NCEF (Nepalese Children’s Education Fund) since 2003, has received distinguished results in her School Level Certificate (SLC) Examination. The SLC examination is a national-level examination for tenth-graders.

Because of the importance of SLC scores in high school admission, some refer to it as the “iron gate.” Sumaiya certainly floated above these iron gates with elegance as she scored 77 percent in the exam.  The score puts her in the top 95th percentile among the three hundred thousand students who took the exam this year. The SLC examination tests students over a wide range of subjects from English to Mathematics and Nepali to Accounting.

Sumaiya is a resident of Kathmandu and she attended Annapurna Higher Secondary School not too far from her house in Bhagwan Bahal. Sumaiya has been known to our volunteers as a responsible student. Sumaiya comes from modest backgrounds. Her parents take a great interest in her studies and it is not surprising that she has been able to secure such a great achievement.  In addition to receiving funding from NCEF, Sumaiya has also received scholarship from her school for her academic achievement.

Sumaiya’s success in the SLC examination is a stunning achievement considering the wide disparities in education based on gender and social background in Nepal. The literacy rate in Nepal is 67 percent as of 2008. However, female literacy is 10 percentage point lower compared to that of males. There are also severe disparities in outcome based on the student’s social background.

NCEF will continue to support Sumaiya as she works to complete her high school degree. We would like to congratulate Sumaiya for this stunning accomplishment and wish her success in the future. We would also like to thank our donors and members without whose support this important achievement in a young girl’s life would not have been possible.