KAVREPALANCHOK: Buddhi Bahadur Syangtan, ward chair of Khani Khola Rural Municipality–5 in Kavre has passed the Secondary Education Examination SEE at the age of 44, returning to school 25 years after discontinuing his studies to join the Maoist “People’s War.”

Syangtan appeared for the SEE from Janabikash Secondary School in his own ward and secured a GPA of 2.55.

He had left school in 2057 BS while studying in Grade 9 to join the then Maoist People’s Liberation Army during the decade long insurgency. Last year, he re enrolled in Grade 9 and completed his secondary education after a gap of more than two decades.

Despite his responsibilities as an elected representative, Syangtan said he managed to attend school around 9 to 10 days each month by balancing study with ward duties.

“I always had a strong desire to study but I had to leave school at a young age,” he said. “Even later, I kept waiting for an opportunity to continue. After getting involved in politics, I became busy with social service. Still, I decided to restart from Grade 9 and after two years of hard work I finally passed the SEE.”

Syangtan said his achievement proves that age should never be a barrier to education. He has now decided to enroll in Grade 11 at the same school and hopes to complete Grade 12 as well.

Speaking humorously about his family he said his eldest daughter had already passed SEE last year and is currently studying in Grade 11 while his younger daughter is now in Grade 10 and his son in Grade 5.

“I ended up one batch behind my eldest daughter,” he joked.

Syangtan added that becoming a people’s representative helped him better understand the value of education. He also clarified that his studies would not affect his public responsibilities.

“I studied during my free time so that ward work would not be disrupted,” he said. “Grade 11 classes are in the morning, so I will attend school early and go to the ward office during the day.”