Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Meghalaya Man, 59, Returns to Class 10 Exams
Sylvester Shadap is 59 years old and lives in Meghalaya.
He had to leave school in 1989 because his family needed money and help.
Now he is studying again for his Class 10 examination.
He will take the test in December.
Shadap is the oldest of 9,767 people taking the examination as private candidates.
These learners do not have to return to a regular full-time school.
The programme was created by the Meghalaya government and education organizations.
It allows people of different ages to get another chance to finish Class 10.
Sylvester Shadap left school in 1989 because of financial hardship and family responsibilities.
The 59-year-old from Thadrang Umngem village is preparing to take his Class 10 examination.
Shadap is the oldest of 9,767 former dropouts registered as private candidates.
The candidates will sit for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination in December.
The Second Chance Learning Programme has no upper age limit and covers learners in all 12 districts.
- Who
- Sylvester Shadap and 9,767 former school dropouts registered as private candidates.
- What
- They are preparing to take the Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination through a second-chance education programme.
- When
- The examination is scheduled for December; Shadap left school in 1989.
- Where
- Shadap is from Thadrang Umngem village in Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya; the programme covers all 12 districts of the state.
- Why
- Shadap left school because of financial hardship and family responsibilities, while the programme offers former dropouts another route to complete Class 10.
- Candidate
- Sylvester Shadap, aged 59
- School departure
- 1989
- Registered dropouts
- 9,767 private candidates
- Examination
- Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination
- Exam timing
- December
- Programme
- Second Chance Learning Programme
- Age limit
- No upper age limit
- Coverage
- Learners from all 12 districts of Meghalaya