Social Activist Yangjom Sherpa Empowers SEE Students Through Nationwide Educational Initiative

Kathmandu. 'Hello Grishma, how is your exam going?' The person asking this with genuine concern via video call to Grishma Adhikari, a student at Durbar High School in Kathmandu who is about to leave for her Secondary Education Examination (SEE), is neither her principal nor her teacher. She is not a relative or guardian either. Social activist Yangjom Sherpa, who shows such affectionate concern, is checking in not only with Grishma but with many other SEE students about their exams and future paths.

Yangjom has been inspired to take an interest in SEE students every year and provide exam preparation classes and encouragement by the students and parents themselves. Yangjom's own struggle to study in a remote village as a child and her subsequent rise to national prominence serve as a source of inspiration. Having lost her mother at a young age, Yangjom is motivated to ensure that children today do not have to face the same lack of guardianship she experienced. She has set an example for students that one can reach the highest levels through honesty, hard work, and continuous effort.

Yangjom's home is in Ghunsa, Phaktanglung, a remote but beautiful village in Taplejung, from where it used to take seven days on foot to reach the district headquarters, Phungling. Her mother tragically passed away due to a lack of medical treatment while giving birth to her as the fifth child.

After her mother's death, Yangjom completed her school education while helping at her aunt's hotel in Atharai Sankranti Bazaar, Terhathum. Today, she has become an 'educational mother' to many school-level students, making her presence felt in schools and the virtual world. On social media, Yangjom continuously provides students with not only academic content but also guidance on health, education, discipline, and motivation.

A few years ago, a mother from her home district called Sherpa and asked her to help her graduate son find a job. Yangjom took the student and his mother to meet the head of a company she knew. The executive asked the student questions related to his field of study, but the student, despite having a four-year degree, lacked practical knowledge.

There are not only those who cannot find jobs after studying, but also many children who cannot even access secondary education. For students who have certificates but cannot find jobs, and for those who could not study well due to poverty and various reasons, Yangjom Sherpa has been reaching out to students, teachers, and parents for three years with a nationwide campaign of free online classes. The team for this campaign includes 35 subject matter experts.

Yangjom has received further energy after Grishma and her mother, Gita Adhikari, responded via video call that the exam is going well and that they are happy to have someone show such interest. 'My wealth is the happiness of the students and parents. Their success gives meaning to our campaign,' said Yangjom. 'We did not just run free online classes for SEE students; we also conducted motivational classes. This has had a positive impact.'

This journey, which started with the Unnati Foundation in previous years, is now being conducted by the Ghunsa Foundation with technical support from Ambition Guru. Yangjom mentioned that students, teachers, and parents have provided feedback that these online classes are more effective than the coaching classes happening in schools.

The free online classes, which started with 30,000 students in 2080 BS, saw 181,000 students join in 2081 BS and 172,000 students in 2082 BS. With subject experts and tech-savvy teachers providing continuous online classes in both Nepali and English media, it is considered a 'Brahmastra' (ultimate weapon) for students.

Last year, then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had called upon the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and relevant bodies to conduct free online classes with the help of telecommunications service providers to address the problem of only 48 percent of students passing the SEE exam.

While the online classes provided by government agencies have not had a widespread impact, the Ghunsa Foundation has presented itself at the forefront of this work at the community level. Last year, there was an improvement of nearly 13 percent in exam results compared to the previous year.

Yangjom, who is a member of the Nepal Trust Board of Directors, said that conducting 'motivational classes' in 34 districts this year has provided additional experience and knowledge for educational improvement. Personalities like Ani Choying Dolma are also featured in these motivational classes.

'Students should not be limited to studying within the walls of the classroom. They must develop the ability to present what they have studied and understood throughout the year with fearlessness within the allotted time during the exam,' she said. 'Our online classes and physical motivational classes have given students that kind of morale.'

Activist Yangjom often tells students upon reaching a classroom, 'Children, you may have parents. Those who do are lucky. For those who do or do not, I am another mother. You can think of me as a mother who helps guide your education and future. We can be a support for your bright future, but you are the ones who have to work hard.'

The Office of the Controller of Examinations (Class 10) under the National Examination Board is conducting this exam across the country simultaneously from Chaitra 19 to 29, as in the past. This year, 512,421 students have applied for the exam. 1,966 examination centers have been designated across the country.