A 12-year-old boy from Churachandpur district of Manipur has become the youngest candidate to clear matric examination in the state after securing 72 per cent in the recently declared High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Examination.
Isaac Paulallungmuan Vaiphei hails from Kangvai village, Churachandpur and he is a student of Mount Olive School. In 2019, he was given approval by the Board of Secondary Examination Manipur (BOSEM) to register his name with his actual date of birth for the examination.
Isaac scored 432 marks out of 600. He scored 91 marks in MIL (Vaiphei), 86 in English, 73 in mathematics, 61 in social science, 53 in science and 68 marks in home science(additional subject).
Speaking exclusively to the Imphal Free Press, Isaac said, “I browse the internet and see my results but I was not very excited with the result because I was confident that I would secure good marks in the exam. But I am a bit disappointed with the marks I have secured in Science and Mathematics."
Having a desire to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer in the future, Isaac said that he will opt for science stream in the higher class and attempt for civil services examination.
Isaac's father Genkholien Vaiphei said that they are satisfied with the results since his son has attempted the examination at a very young age. Vaiphei said that he will support his son in pursuing his education or any career choices he makes in the future while adding that he is still young and has enough time and age to decide. He said that he will support Isaac if he chooses to appear for the civil services examination.
He further said Isaac does not mingle much with other kids. Instead, he likes to stay at home and learn different things from the internet. He thanked the education department for giving his son the opportunity to appear in the examination and said that the initiative of the department for this will pave ways for the coming generations to test their skills and talents.
Genkholien said, “My son's achievement is a historic moment for the family and the state as a whole.”
The Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) gave its approval to Isaac as an opportunity to appear for the examination. As per the rules, a student shall complete 15 years of age on April 1 of the year in which a candidate intends to appear for the class 10 board exams.
The approval was given by the Administrative board members of the Manipur Board based on a psychological test conducted on the boy. The administrative members termed it a “special case” considering the boy’s mental age and superior IQ.
The boy was 11 years old and studying in class 9 when his father, Genkholien Vaiphei submitted an application on his behalf seeking permission from the board to allow his son to appear in the exam. However, his request was denied citing his age factor.
Genkholien said that initially, they were asked to change the age of the boy to 15 so that he could appear in the exams. As such, he approached the higher authority, driven by his son's dreams. Following Vaiphei’s application, the commissioner of the education department ordered a Psychology test on the boy.
As per the test results conducted by the department of Clinical Psychology RIMS Imphal, Isaac’s mental age was 17 years, 5 months and his basal age was 14 years and terminal age was 22 years. His IQ is 141 which can be considered as superior in intellect and development functioning, as per the result.
Isaac did his schooling till class 8 at Mount Olive School, Kangvai, Churachandpur district run by his father. But, his parents shifted him to Rayburn High School (CBSE) in June 2018, following his earnest desire to write his class 10 exams.
After three months at Rayburn, his application was rejected citing age factor. Later the same year, he was again enrolled in Mount Olive School.
