Rukum:Unlike students in town areas who join bridge course or engage in various training after their School Leaving Certificate examination, Santosh Pun of remote Purtimkanda VDC-1 in the district is all set to go to India for work.

“I am preparing to go to India for work and to utilise my leisure time. The money earned there will be helpful to pursue further studies,” said Pun who attended this year’s SLC test. He said he would return only if he passed the exam. Santosh’s friend Hari Kumar BK has also decided to accompany him to India. He is of the opinion that he will return home for 10+2 if he passes the SLC. Otherwise, he plans to remain in the Indian town and work. Hari said he took this decision with permission from his parents.

Rohit KC of Bhalakcha, another SLC student, said he along with his 10 friends is preparing to go to India for work. These are some handful cases. Hundreds of students from various remote VDCs like Chaukhabang, Purtimkanda, Garayala, Syalakhadi, Gotakot and Kotjahari go to India in search of job opportunities after their SLC test each year. Buses leaving the district for India are seen jam-packed with passengers mostly students now.

“It has been a tradition to go to India in search of job opportunities after their SLC exam in the district. They do so mainly due to poverty,” said Bhupendra Acharya, headmaster at Janata Higher Secondary School in Pokhara. He said more than half of the students attending the test from his school are preparing to go to India. The leisure plan of students at Musikot, the district headquarters, and some other accessible places is however different. They are thinking of joining bridge course, computer training and other skill-based trainings.

“Students in the district headquarters and other business points engage in various training and attend bridge course after their SLC examination while students from remote villages go to India for work,” said Min Bahadur Pun, head teacher at Tribhuvan Janata Higher Secondary School in Musikot.

source: the kathmandu post.3 april 2014