DoE orders school resumption

KATHMANDU, Sept 10: Department of Education (DoE) has directed its five regional directorates to take initiatives for resumption of schools and colleges in various parts of country that have remained closed for over a month following violent protests.

It was the first such directive issued by the DoE even though the academic institutions have remained closed for several weeks.The government declared the academic sector as a "zone of peace" four years ago following a written commitment from political parties that they would not obstruct the functioning of school and colleges under any circumstance, the paties have repeatedly failed to honor their pledge.

The written commitment forms the basis for the DoE's latest directive, which makes the District Education Office responsible for resuming schools and colleges.

The 26 days of closure after the April 25 earthquake and the ongoing protests have already affected more than 50 days of the academic calendar.

While the private schools have already declared that covering this year's academic courses was impossible, the government has been working to revise the academic calendar. After the country entered the peace process, this is the first time that the academic calendar for a year is being revised twice.

"The attitude of both the government and the agitating groups toward schools suggests that we are in a state of war and it is unsafe for children to go to school," said Rajendra Baniya, acting general secretary of Private and Boarding School's Organization, Nepal.

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