By Manjima Dhakal
Kathmandu, Jan. 23: Many schools have begun resuming classes from this week as COVID-19 cases are on the decline in the Kathmandu Valley.
With permission from the concerned local level authority of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts, several schools within the two districts have started physical classes following the health and safety protocols. However, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has not yet decided on the issue.
According to Ram Prasad Subedi, Education Head of KMC, a meeting, which is scheduled to take place by the end of this week, will hopefully come up with concrete answers to either continue schools online or shift back to regular classes.
According to Subedi, the KMC is also leaning towards opening schools so as to compensate for the delay in covering the curriculum within stipulated academic session.
Although there has been no official announcement from KMC, numerous schools within the capital city have reverted back to physical classes. While virtual means have been effective in furthering education during the time of crisis, online can’t be a permanent alternative to academic institutions, say educationists.
Bearing this in mind, Vishwo Niketan Secondary School, Tripureshwor, has also resumed classes, albeit only on alternative days, from this week onwards. “While the local authority hasn’t formally approved of this, we decided to run the risk facing increasing pressure from guardians to run normal classes,” said Heramba Raj Kandel, Headmaster of the school.
DK Dhungana, co-chairperson of the Private and Boarding School Organisation of Nepal (PABSON), confirmed that a growing number of academic institutions are increasingly switching back to regular classes. “Only those schools, who have been successfully and effectively carrying out virtual sessions have decided against physical classes,” he added.
“There is no meaning to keep schools shut as all facets of life have come back to normal,” stated Dhungana.
Shiva Raj Panta, principal of LRI School, said that though his school also falls under the jurisdiction of KMC, the school is eyeing to call secondary level students at the school premises from next week.
While an increasing number of schools are opening their doors to students, a majority are running the classes either alternatively or for a reduced amount of time per day.
Besides Kathmandu, almost all schools across the nation have already resumed physical classes following decisions from the concerned local governments. In Kathmandu, 43,000 students are studying in 92 community schools while 110,000 students are enrolled in 645 institutional schools.
Dr. Rabindra Pandey, public health expert said it was impossible to close a school indefinitely as it was uncertain for how long the pandemic will last. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the state of the health crisis and operate accordingly.