KATHMANDU: The Class 12 board exams, originally scheduled to begin this Thursday (April 24), have now been postponed to May  4. The decision follows a high-level directive from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli amidst growing pressure due to ongoing protests by schoolteachers across the country.

While the Board has finalized the new date, the official schedule of the exams will only be released on Wednesday.

The postponement was triggered by the ongoing agitation of teachers, who have been demanding amendments to the newly proposed School Education Bill. Their protests have significantly disrupted academic activities nationwide, including preparations for the final exams.

On Tuesday evening, a crucial meeting took place at Baluwatar where PM Oli personally met with Board Chair Mahashram Sharma and Education Secretary Deepak Kafle. During the discussion, the Prime Minister reportedly instructed them to delay the exams by a few days to allow for a more stable environment.

An official notice announcing the postponement is expected to be issued shortly.