Selection

Samaanta Foundation has a rigorous selection mechanism in place to select students who are most suited to the Foundation’s goals. Our selection is based on three principles:

  1. Academic Excellence
  2. Financial Need
  3. Commitment to Service and Potential for Leadership

The selection and recruitment process is described in detail below:

Identification of target schools from rural Nepal

Samaanta seeks to identify well-performing public schools with a good management team and dedicated teachers. We identify target schools in collaboration with existing educational initiatives in rural Nepal because we believe in the power of local knowledge for effective action. After identifying prospective schools with partner recommendations. Samaanta representatives contact these schools to discuss the goals of the Fellowship with the school principal and teachers, broadly assess the performance of their students, and determine the feasibility of selecting students from that school.

Nomination of students who are appearing for the Secondary Education Examinations (SEE)

Based on Samaanta’s discussion with the school about the eligibility of the students, the schools are asked to nominate two students. This process starts in mid-January before the SEE exams start. 

Nomination Process

The nomination process requires the teacher or the principal to fill up a form along with a reference for the candidate. The referee is requested to assess the candidate’s potential as well as their financial background to fill up the form. Additionally, the referee also has to send the candidate’s academic transcripts from the last three years for the nomination.

Written exam and interview process

Each candidate then has to attend a virtual written examination as the first round of the selection process. After the assessment of the viability of the candidate through the written exam the candidate appears for an interview. Both of these two aforementioned stages are qualifying rounds. If the candidate qualifies on both these stages they then proceed to the final round of interviews. 

Based on the application, transcripts, written exam and interviews, Samaanta shortlists a limited number of candidates for the Fellowship.

Assessment of financial status by Samaanta representatives

Samaanta representatives visit the homes of shortlisted candidates to verify their financial status. We take this opportunity to meet with community leaders and discuss the ethos and implications of the fellowship.

Final selection and Fellowship agreements

After all this is completed the Final selection is made after the SEE examinations, in time for admission in 11th grade, allowing enough time for orientation for the new Fellows. 

A Fellowship agreement is signed with each selected Fellow, as well as their parents and/or local guardians before they begin their Fellowship journey. This agreement is for the upcoming two years of their High School journey.

Renewal of Fellowship Agreement

Around 70% of Samaanta Fellows proceed to complete their bachelor’s degree with the Fellowship. The decision to continue the Fellowship is based on the performance of each Fellow throughout their high school Fellowship journey. The Fellows are evaluated under several criteria including but not limited to school attendance and performance, extracurricular involvement, commitment to service and their leadership potential, and commitment to the Fellowship. 

The Fellowship Agreement is revisited after the completion of the Fellow’s High School exams for the selection to the bachelor’s level. 

We also hold discussions with the parents throughout the two years to ensure that they are aware of this decision-making process. 

The decision to renew each student’s Fellowship lies at the sole discretion of Samaanta Foundation. 

Timeline

We start the selection process in mid-January, a little ahead of the SEE examinations and we aim to announce the recipients of the Fellowship by the end of May.

The entire process is extremely transparent and we keep all interested parties (applicants, Fellows, teachers, parents, and community members) informed throughout the process. We provide counsel to applicants and parents as necessary, and the selection is based on a rigorous selection matrix we have developed over the last few years.