Teen wonder finishes HSC at age 13

It usually takes 16 to 17 years for one to complete his/her schooling and junior college, but Jamnagar boy Nirbhay Thacker has finished his HSC at age 13. It was possible thanks to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) board that allows fast learners to complete their schooling in a short span of time.

Thacker said he completed his Stds VIII, IX and X in six months and later Stds XI and XII in three months in the academic year 2015-16.

On Thursday, he was given the Young Achiever Award by World Education Congress.

"I believe that if you understand what you are reading you can clear any examination, learning by rote never helps one. That is how I cleared my schooling and junior college. I was in a CBSE school till Std VI, and that school was not allowing students to participate in any competition till completion of Std VI. So, I decided to change schools. I took admission in an IGCSE school as a private candidate. That helped me to clear five grades in one year."

Thacker also appeared for the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) in which he secured 75/360. He now hopes to complete his engineering in one year.

The teenager said, "We have approached the Gujarat Technological University to allow me to enrol and finish my engineering in a year. The university's vice chancellor has sent the proposal for approval to the University Grants Commission and All-India Council of Technical Education. We have also met Gujarat education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, who assured of discussing the proposal with MHRD minister Smriti Irani."

"I wish to complete five branches of engineering in four years — electrical, mechanical, computer, instrumentation and automation, and chemical. I also wish to meet our prime minister, Narendra Modi," he added.