By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 23: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, students across the nation geared up for their forthcoming final term examination usually scheduled for March. This time, however, given the virus spread and the necessity of social distancing, the fate of physical examination remains uncertain.
The forthcoming academic sessions and evaluation methods remain unknown much to the dismay of countless students.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) is yet to come up with a full-proof evaluation system, which would neither hamper students’ academic progress nor compromise their health.
Following the Ministry guideline for school operation, many schools across the country have started running classes physically while others continue virtually. But despite resuming classes, school managements have been unable to formulate clear-cut framework owing to the looming uncertainty over final evaluation time and method.
Surya Ghimire, Head Master of Pragati Shikshya Sadan, Lalitpur said the government has a habit to decide things in the eleventh hour when there is a chance of their going wrong.
According to Ghimire, it is not possible to complete courses by April. So, it is better to extend the courses up to June/July. The government school children will face the maximum brunt of the pandemic should the academic session end by March because the virtual classes haven’t been effective or even possible at several government-run academic institutions.
Shiva Raj Panta, founder of LRI School, Kalanki, said that the government’s delay in decision making has led the schools astray. “The indecision has led to difficulty in planning the course for the ongoing year and the forthcoming academic year,” revealed Panta while also suggesting extension of this academic session to June.
Talking about the government’s plan on academic session and evaluation method, Deepak Sharma, spokesperson of the MoEST, said they are working on it. So, he asked schools to continue their academic activities for now.
The spokesperson denied disclosing anything related to the final year evaluation of school.
While the authorities remain tight-lipped about the academic session, guardians have started worrying about their children’s education.
Sima Sharma, mother of a sixth-grader, said, “Though my son is attending classes every day, I am not sure if he will go to the next class or not.” She urged the authorities to clarify the issue so that students can make preparations accordingly.