Siblings, ten and 12, top the Junior Certificate exam results

'Maseribane High School in Quthing has for the first time in its history managed to have two students among the top 10 students countrywide in the 2003 Junior Certificate (J.C.) examination results.

The two, siblings Nidhin(12) and Nikhil Varghese (10), have also made history as it is not common in Lesotho for children their age to have already sat for the JC examinations. Asked how they had managed this at such a tender age, their father Mr. Bejoy Varghese, who is also a mathematics and science teacher at the school, said Nidhin (12) started his primary education from Class Five at the aged of seven while Nikhil (10) started at Class Six six at the age of six at Sekhonyana Primary School in Mount. Moorosi. 

The two boys had been promoted to higher classes because their teachers felt they were more suited to starting at Class Seven. Children need parental assistance to improve their performance in school, Mr. Varghese advised.  

In an interview, Nidhin expressed his happiness at topping the country, getting position one among the top 10 students in the country. His father always gave him technical and moral support, he said. The younger sibling, Nikhil, who was third overall could not hide his happiness but also had a kind word for those who did not succeed, telling them try harder this year. His outstanding performance is a result of dedication and inquisitiveness to learn, he said.  

The District Senior Education officer Mr. Jone Marole confirmed that the national education policy does not allow children to start primary schooling before the age of six. However the Ministry of Education's  psychologists were in a better position to explain why they recommended that children start school at the age of six. 

Mr. Marole congratulated the two 'Maseribane High Schools students and another, Itumeleng Makutoane, a girl from Mopholosi High who was ninth overall.  He encouraged students to work hard and urged parents to support their children morally and technically for improvement of their education. This support needed not necessarily need that parents be educated, but only that they should ensure that their children have time for their books in the afternoons and evenings.

At least 699 students sat for the Junior Certificate Examination in the 12 secondary and high schools in the Quthing district in 2003. Among them seven passed with merit, 28 first class, 394 second class, 101 third class and 169 failed.

19 January 2004