Education Ministry urges institutions to adopt alternative measures

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has urged educational institutions across the country to run classes adopting alternative measures.

In view of increasing COVID-19 cases, it has directed the concerned authorities not to organise any assembly and gathering on the premises of educational institutions and follow the guidelines related to school operation, 2077 BS issued by the Ministry to run classes.

As per the press statement issued by the ministry, Education Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha at a meeting on Friday reviewed the advice given by the stakeholders during the consultative meeting held on April 12. They had appealed to the government not to close schools under the pretext of staving off the transmission of COVID-19 infection. However, Minister Shrestha urged all educational institutions to adhere to the health safety protocol while operating classes. The educational institutions affected by the infection may be shut completely acting on a decision of the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (DCCMC), he said.

It has been learnt that Education Secretary Ram Prasad Thapaliya viewed that local levels should be granted authority to make a decision in closing down or operating schools in view of the infection. He urged adherence to the health protocol strictly.

Likewise, Science and Technology Secretary Sanjaya Sharma said running class on an alternative basis is possible in the present situation. He said that schools should be serious and aware as the infection has affected most people below 18.

Meanwhile, the ministry in a statement has informed that local levels have been provided authority to take a decision in continuing with or shutting classes amid the infection.

The Ministry's spokesperson Dipak Sharma has asked the concerned authority and schools to cooperate with local levels in the precarious condition of late. He also urged one and all to follow health safety protocol and other precautious measures set forth by the Provincial Government and local levels and also use facemasks and sanitisers and wash hands to be safe from the virus.

Meanwhile, coordinator at Geetanjali Higher Secondary School, Sameer KC, said to Nepal News, "We are not against online classes, but the students who are from lower-middle-class families face difficulties gaining access to the internet as many of them could not afford to pay for the facility. In addition, both the students and teacher often face technical problems while taking online classes.

He opined that the government should ensure that everyone is facilitated with a reliable internet connection. If the government initiates any protocol they should create proper and systematic ways to carry out the rules. He lamented, "The government just show us vision with no proper direction."

Likewise, Deepak Upadhaya, a teacher at EPS School, Minbhawan argued that online classes become problematic for government schools since they do not have enough resources. He also said it is hard to draw the attention of students at the junior level through online classes. It becomes very difficult for them to concentrate and focus on study, he shared.

Meanwhile, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has also issued directive to all schools to operate classes implementing health protocols and shut down schools where the students, teachers or other staff have been detected with COVID-19.

Over the past few days, Nepal has witnessed a surge of coronavirus cases on daily basis. The Ministry of Health and Population Friday reported 836 new cases of coronavirus infection in Nepal. The addition of new cases has taken the country's COVID-19 tally to 282, 890.

Nepalganj Sub-metropolis has closed all educational institutions for a week in view of increasing cases of coronavirus infection. At least 49 persons infected with coronavirus infection were said to be in critical condition at Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj.