The desire to receive an education can be extraordinary. It is perhaps like a passion that keeps a person striving until it is fulfilled, and only success brings satisfaction. Such hardworking and determined individuals are rare. This is the story of one such determined woman.
Babita Shrestha currently lives in Ward No. 2 of Dakshinkali Municipality. Due to family circumstances, she had to discontinue her education while studying in Grade 7. During that period, she also got married. After marriage, she devoted herself to caring for her family. Since she could read and write a little, she became involved in a women’s group, but her desire to continue studying remained very strong.
In 2080 B.S. (2023/24), Babita came to Shikharapur, and from there her educational journey began again. She enrolled in the Basic Level Open School. Since classes were held during the daytime, she managed to attend after completing her household responsibilities. As the mother of one daughter, Babita would send her daughter to school and then attend the Open School herself. Her husband had gone abroad for foreign employment. She studied alongside classmates who were her age as well as younger brothers and sisters, treating them like friends. She appeared for the Grade 8 annual examination but could not pass some of the difficult subjects. She worked harder, took the examination again, and this time passed all the subjects.
Babita Shrestha’s Reflection:
“I failed more than once, but I never let failure become the end of my journey. Every setback gave me another reason to keep learning, and today I know that determination can open even the strongest iron gate.”
A new chapter of her journey then began. She started preparing for the Secondary Education Examination (SEE), Grade 10. Since the classes were held in the morning and her home was far from the school, she could not attend regularly. However, she prepared diligently at home, learning together with her daughter. She also took tuition classes in the more difficult subjects and appeared for the annual examination.
Reflection by Lalita Lamichhane (Teacher & Facilitator):
“Babita’s journey reminds us that education has no age limit. With determination, family support, and the right opportunity, every learner can rewrite their future.”
After some time, the results were published, but she could not pass the difficult subjects. She failed in two subjects. Nevertheless, Babita remained determined. She began studying again and appeared in the Grade Improvement Examination. She was confident, but luck did not favor her this time either. She failed one subject once again. Although she was naturally disappointed, Babita did not give up. For another year, she continued studying from home with the support of her daughter. By then, her daughter had reached Grade 12.
Babita Shrestha’s Reflection:
“Because my home was far from the school, I could not attend classes regularly. The route passed through the forest, making the journey even more difficult. I studied a great deal at home by watching YouTube lessons, and my daughter supported me throughout my learning. I always remembered my teacher, Lalita Ma’am. Her words constantly inspired and encouraged me. Whenever I failed, I felt embarrassed to face her. But she never stopped believing in me—she always motivated me, supported me, and encouraged me to keep moving forward.”
Refusing to surrender despite repeated failures, Babita appeared in the 2082 B.S. (2025/26) Secondary Education Examination. This journey was certainly not easy for her, but she remained courageous and steadfast.
Finally, the results were published, and this time both her hard work and good fortune stood by her side. She successfully crossed the “Iron Gate”—a phrase commonly used in Nepal to symbolize passing the SEE examination. She shared this joyful achievement with her family, friends, and school. Babita became an example of someone who, despite failing repeatedly, never abandoned her determination to succeed. Returning to education after leaving school for twenty years was certainly not easy, but Babita persevered, and she succeeded.
Today, Babita continues her education in the Humanities Faculty at Mahendra Bhrikuti Secondary School in Lalitpur. Her determination remains as strong as ever.
Shikharapur Open School has become the right destination for hardworking learners like Babita. It has become a beacon of hope for those who were deprived of educational opportunities. By providing non-formal education and connecting learners to higher and formal education, Shikharapur Open School has proven to be a bridge toward a better future.
Prepared by:
Lalita Lamichhane
Coordinator, Shikharapur Open School
and
Field Coordinator, Shikharapur Community Learning Center
नथाकिएर जितिएको एउटा कथा
शिक्षा प्राप्त गर्ने हुटहुटी पनि अचम्मको हुने रहेछ । एउटा नसा होला सायद जो मानिसले पूरा नहुन्जेल सम्म निरन्तर कोशिस गरिरहन्छ र सफलता पाएर मात्र सन्तुष्ट हुन्छ । यस्ता मेहनती र दृढ संकल्पी मानिसहरू बिरलै हुन्छन् । यो कथा पनि यस्तै एक दृढ संकल्पी महिलाको हो ।
बबिता श्रेष्ठ हाल दक्षिणकाली नगरपालिका वडा २ मा बस्नुहुन्छ । घरायसी कारणले बबिताको कक्षा ७ मा पढाई छुट्यो । यसै विचमा विवाह पनि भयो । विवाह पछि घरपरिवारको सेवामा समर्पित भइन् । अलि अलि लेख्न र पढ्न जानेकाले महिला समूहमा काम पनि गरिन् तर उनीमा पढने चाहना प्रचूर थियो । यसै क्रममा २०८० मा शिखरापुरमा बबिता आइन् र यहिँबाट उनको अध्ययनको यात्रा शुरू भयो । उनी आधारभुत तहमा पढन थालिन् । दिउँसोको समयमा कक्षा भएकाले घरको काम सकेर पढन समय पाइन । एक छोरीकी आमा बबिता छोरीलाई विद्यालय पठाएर खुला विद्यालयमा आउँथिन् । उनका श्रीमान् बैदेशिक रोजगारका लागि गएका छन् । आफू जस्तै र आफूभन्दा कम उमेरका भाइ बहिनीसँग साथी जस्तो गरी पढन थालिन् । कक्षा ८ को वार्षिक परीक्षा पनि दिइन् तर केही कठीन विषयमा उत्तीर्ण गर्न सकिनन् । फेरि मेहनत गरेर परीक्षा दिइन् । यो पल्ट सबै विषयमा उत्तीर्ण गरिन् ।
“म एकपटक होइन, पटक–पटक असफल भएँ। तर मैले असफलतालाई आफ्नो यात्राको अन्त्य बन्न दिइनँ। हरेक असफलताले मलाई अझै सिक्न र अघि बढ्न नयाँ प्रेरणा दियो। आज मैले बुझें—दृढ संकल्प, निरन्तर मेहनत र आत्मविश्वास भएमा फलामको ढोका पनि पार गर्न सकिन्छ।” – बबिता श्रेष्ठ
अब उनको अर्को यात्रा शुरू भयो । माध्यमिक शिक्षा परीक्षा कक्षा १० मा उनको अध्ययन शुरू भयो । विहानको कक्षा भएकाले र घर विद्यालयको दुरी टाढा हुनाले नियमित हुन सकिनन् । तर उनले घरमा छोरीसँग सिकेर परीक्षाको राम्रो तयारी गरिन् । कठिन विषयलाइ ट्युसन पनि लिइन् । वार्षिक परीक्षा पनि दिइन् ।
केही समयमा नतिजा आयो तर कठिन विषयमा उत्तीर्ण हुन सकिनन् । २ वटा विषयमा अफलता प्राप्त गरिन । बबितामा दृढ संकल्प थियो । उनले फेरि पढन थालिन् र ग्रेड वृद्दि परीक्षामा सहभागी भइन् । उनीमा आत्मविश्वास थियो तर भाग्यले यो पटक पनि साथ दिएन । एउटा विषयमा फेरि असफलता हात लाग्यो । केहि निराश त पक्कै भइन् बबिता तर हार मानिनन् । एक वर्ष फेरि घरैबाट छोरीको साथमा सिकिन् । यो समयसम्म पुग्दा उनकी छोरी कक्षा १२ मा पुगेकी थिइन् ।
लगातारको असफलताले हार नमानेकी बबिताले २०८२ को माध्यमिक शिक्षा परीक्षामा सहभागी भइन् । यो यात्रा उनको लागि सजिलो त पक्कै थिएन तर हिम्मत नहारेकी बबिता दृढ थिइन् ।
“बबिताको यात्रा हामी सबैका लागि प्रेरणाको स्रोत हो। शिक्षाको कुनै उमेर हुँदैन भन्ने सत्यलाई उहाँले आफ्नो जीवनबाट प्रमाणित गर्नुभएको छ। दृढ संकल्प, परिवारको साथ र सही अवसर प्राप्त भएमा हरेक सिक्ने व्यक्तिले आफ्नो भविष्यलाई नयाँ ढंगले लेख्न सक्छ।” – ललिता लामिछाने, शिक्षिका तथा सहजकर्ता
अन्तत: नतिजा प्रकाशित भयो र यो पटक उनलाई भाग्य र मेहनत दुवैले साथ दियो । उनले फलामको ढोका पार गर्न सफल भइन् । यो खुशी उनले घर परिवार, साथीभाइ , विद्यालय सबैतिर बाँडिन् । उनी एउटा यस्तो पात्र बनिन् जो पटक पटक असफल भएर पनि सफल हुने संकल्प राखिरहिन् । २० वर्ष पढाई छोडेर फेरि पढ्नु सजिलो पक्कै थिएन तर बबिताले कोशिस गरिन् र सफल भइन् ।
“मेराे घर विद्यालयबाट टाढा भएकाेले म नियमित विद्यालय जान सकिन् । जंगलकाे बाटाे थियाे । घरमा बसेर युटुयब हेरेर धेरै पढे । घरबाट छारीले पनि सहयाेग गरिन् । म सधै मेराे ललिता म्यामलाइ सम्झन्थे । उहाँकाे भनाइले मलाइ प्ररित गर्थ्याे । म पटक पटक असफल हुदाँ म्यामकाे अगाडि जान अफ्ठेराे लाग्थ्याे । तर म्यामले सधै प्ररित गर्नुभयाे अनि सहयाेग पनि गर्नुभएकाे छ ।” बबिता श्रेष्ठ
हाल बबिता आफ्नो अध्ययनलाई निरन्तरता दिदै ललितपुरको महेन्द्र भृकुटी माविमा मानविकी संकायमा अध्ययन गर्दै छिन् । आज पनि उनको दृढ संकल्प उस्तै रहेको छ ।शिखरापुर खुला विद्यालय बबिता जस्ता मेहनतीहरूका लागि सहि गन्तव्य हुन पुगेको छ । शिक्षाको अवसरबाट वञ्चितहरूका लागि आशाको किरण बनेको छ । अनौपचारिक शिक्षाका माध्यमबाट उच्च र औपचारिक शिक्षामा जोडिदिने सेतुको रूपमा शिखरापुर खुला विद्यालय सावित भएको छ ।
तयार गर्ने : ललिता लामिछाने
संयोजक,
शिखरापुर खुला विद्यालय
तथा फिल्ड संयोजक, शिखरापुर सामुदायिक अध्ययन केन्द्र