Pratima, who is appearing for SLC exams after ten days, is one of the 450,000 students who are suffering from the gruesome half-a-day power cut.[break]
Having to live with only 12 hours of electricity, the students who are sitting for SLC exams from March 25 are facing difficulty to study under the limited dim lights of candles or local lamps.
Pramita Chapagai, a fifteen-year old student at New Summit School is very frustrated. "We have electricity for only twelve hours each day. Most of the load-shedding time falls during the late evenings and early mornings. This is the time my friends and I prefer to study. Due to the frequent power cuts, we find it very difficult to concentrate. Much to my dismay, I have a headache if I study in dim light."
The plight of SLC-exam taking students don´t seem to lessen as the Nepal Electricity Authority blames the dry season for having to have long-hour power cuts.
"I don´t think the load-shedding hours will decrease before April 5," says Nepal Electricity Authority Director Sher Singh Bhat.
Anyway, by then the exams will be over.
Sandeep Sada, science and mathematics teacher at Honor International School, Kritipur says, "It´s extremely difficult to conduct practical science classes that require electricity. With increasing dark hours and SLC exams nearing, students have found it difficult to study. This load shedding will surely have an impact on their marks."
Sada says that a few days back a student had come to school with a burnt book.
Sakuntala Pandey, a student at Universal is well aware that she has to study well for her bright future but is worried. "I don´t want my future to be dark like the load-shedding," she says.
Students whose families have bought inverters and emergency lights have less to worry about power-cuts whereas other students have to manage with candles and local lamps.
Shyam Pandey, Sakuntala´s father says, "I feel guilty that I am not able to provide my daughter with inverter because of which she has to study under the dim light of candle."
Interestingly, Anup Shrestha, a student sitting for the SLC exam, has found something to appreciate.
"We are lucky as we have only 12 hours of load shedding. Last year there was 16 hours power cut," says Shrestha, adding, "When there´s light I practice computer, which definitely requires electricity."
Shayam Pandey urges SLC students to study well and utilize their time when there is power.
"It would be good if the government could decrease the power cut time at least until the SLC exam," Pandey says.
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