Uncertainty Over Resumption of Educational Institutions:
The process of reopening educational institutions that have been closed for the past four months due to coronavirus (Covid-19) infection has again created confusion. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has reached a point where it is not possible to allow the local level to open a school even in a place where the virus infection is low and conducive to running a school. Confusion has increased as the ministry is also waiting for guidance and coordination from the upper echelons.
After reversing some of the decisions made by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, the concerned officials of the Ministry are now discussing whether to wait for the order of the higher body to decide on the operation of the school. Earlier, the ministry had decided to conduct the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) on April 19 focusing on health security. The examination could not be conducted after the Covid-19 Infection Prevention and Control High-Level Committee decided to suspend the examination. He said that the decision to close the school due to the transition was taken by the same high-level committee after reviewing the past. He said that in this case, the decision could be taken only by the ministry. On the other hand, the high-level committee is currently inactive.
In the case of universities, a comfortable situation has been created after the University Grants Commission has given autonomous rights to higher educational institutions.
Meanwhile, the National Examination Board (NEB) has decided not to publish the results of the examination even though all the archiving work has been completed. Controller of Examinations Ram Raj Khakurel said that the results could not be published for a few days due to the resurgence of coronavirus infection. Board Chairman Dr. Chandra Mani Poudel informed that all the necessary preparations have been completed to publish the results but the situation is not conducive for the results to come in a few days.
PABSON chairperson Tika Puri said it would be better to delay the publication of results for a few days as the school could be overcrowded with parents and students.
Meanwhile, the National Examination Board (NEB) has decided to refund the examination fee charged from the students after the results of the secondary class 11 examinations were published. The board has decided to return four hundred rupees out of the six hundred rupees taken from the students. The board will spend Rs 200 on preparation for the exam. The amount returned by the board will not be sent directly to the school but will be adjusted so that the student can fill the examination form in class 12.
