Age Limit Reintroduced for SEE Exam Participation

The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has instructed the National Examination Board to strictly enforce the age limit provision as per the Education Regulations. According to Clause 78, Sub-clause 6 of the Education Regulation, students below 14 years of age will not be allowed to participate in the Secondary Education Examination (SEE).

Although the ministry had removed the age restriction for SEE candidates in 2021 (2078 BS), stating that secondary education continues up to Grade 12 and requiring students to be 14 only at the time of Grade 12 exams, the recent directive reverts back to the original provision.

If implemented, only students who turn 14 years old by the end of Chaitra 2082 (mid-April 2026) will be eligible for the SEE exam in that academic year. In other words, students born on or before the end of Chaitra 2068 (April 2012) will be allowed to participate.

Currently, the board is collecting registration forms for Grade 10 students, with the deadline set for the end of Jestha (mid-June 2025). However, many students applying do not meet the age requirement. The board reports receiving numerous complaints from schools, students, and parents regarding the issue.

Dr. Bhattarai confirmed, “Once the legal provision comes into effect, students will be able to correct their birth records accordingly.”

Some registered students fall just a few days short of the required age, while others are only 12 years old—far below the required age. Exam Controller Dr. Ganesh Bhattarai expressed concern, stating, “Being short by a few days is understandable, but it is not acceptable for Grade 10 students to be only 12 years old. This is likely due to parents manipulating birth dates or pushing children ahead through class jumps, which is not legally permissible.”

The current issue has emerged because, after the ministry’s 2021 decision to remove the age limit, some parents altered birth records or accelerated their children's education to higher grades at younger ages. With the ministry now reverting to the previous rule, it has led to confusion and complications.

Ministry spokesperson Shiv Kumar Sapkota admitted that removing the age limit through a ministerial decision in 2078 was a mistake. He clarified, “We are simply enforcing what the regulation already states. If any problems arise, the board has been advised to facilitate the process.”

What’s the Solution?
To address the widespread problem, the board is temporarily allowing Grade 10 students who haven’t turned 14 to mention their birthdate as the end of Chaitra 2068 (April 2012) while filling out registration forms.

This temporary measure is based on a bill currently in the National Assembly that proposes amending some Nepal Acts to allow birthdate corrections once. If this bill is enacted, students can officially adjust their birthdate to match what is written in the registration form.