HSLC subject topper from children home to receive Governor’s Award

KOHIMA— Monika, a resident of ZAVMAST Children Home at Khulazu Basa village under Phek district and a student of Government High School, Khulazu Basa, has defied all odds to become a subject topper in the HSLC exams.

The teenage girl, who cleared the HSLC Exams 2023 conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education with a total pass percentage of 91.6%, is the subject topper in Environmental Education.

Monika also secured distinctions in other subjects including Social Science, Science, Mathematics, English and Alternative English.

She is one of the three students selected to receive the ‘Governor’s Award for Government School students,’ the award ceremony of which is due to be announced.

The other two students are Rahul Roy from Ruzhukhrie Govt. HSS, Kohima and Arenchetla of Govt. High School, Khar, Mokokchung.

Monika is among the nine students who passed out from GHS, Khulazu Basa, which achieved a hundred pass percentage this time. 

The eldest in a family of six siblings, Monika’s parents could not afford to finance her education as they are from an economically deprived background: her step-father is a labourer and her mother is a homemaker.

She was enrolled into the Children Home last year after her parents became “incapacitated” and since then the Home has been looking after her, the probation officer of ZAVMAST Children Home, Choseta Tetseo said.

When she enrolled in GHS, Khulazu Basa, as a class IX student in 2021, she initially stayed in a rented house, but on learning about her financial situation and her sincerity in studies, the home took her in last year, Tetseo added.

The ZAVMAST Children Home is a Non-Government Organisation run by Society called ZAVMAST. The children home receives grant-in-aid from Social Welfare Department to run the Children Home for underprivileged children. The Home started functioning in 2009 and since then has sheltered and helped children from different villages over the years.

Monika is the only student from the home to appear for HSLC this time. In the preceding years, several students staying in the home have cleared HSCL examinations. 

She intends to pursue Science because of her interest in Mathematics. She aspires to become an IAS officer in the future.

Currently, she is seeking admission at Government College, Phek and If selected, she plans to stay at the Vision Open Shelter Home, Phek (under the Department of Social Welfare), which will look after her studies.

Vepolu Rhakho, an English and EE subject teacher at GHS, Khulazu Basa, attested that Monika is a sincere, hard-working and well-deserving student.

Rhakho said she had seen Monika studying and cooking simultaneously during her stay in a rented house.

“She is every teacher’s favourite,” Rhakho added.