KATHMANDU, APRIL 22

The National Examinations Board (NEB) has decided to conduct the Grade 12 examinations as scheduled, starting from April 24.

A meeting of the Board held today at Sanothimi reaffirmed that the exams will proceed on the predetermined date and urged students not to be misled by ongoing uncertainties.

Confusion had arisen among students and parents regarding whether the exams would be held on time due to the ongoing protest and demonstrations by the Confederation of Nepalese Teachers (CNT), especially after the Confederation announced it would not cooperate in administering the exams.

Controller of Examinations, Krishna Sharma, stated that the Board is committed to conducting the exams on schedule, even if it means mobilizing government employees in place of non-cooperative teachers. He emphasized that postponing the exams would disrupt students' preparation and the academic calendar, hence the firm decision to go ahead as planned.

To ensure smooth administration, the responsibility of conducting the examinations has been entrusted to the District Examination Coordination Committees, led by the respective Chief District Officers (CDOs). Each CDO is authorized to conduct the exams within the scheduled timeframe by mobilizing civil servants in the district.

Teachers not participating in the agitation will be appointed as exam superintendents and assistant superintendents. In centres where this is not feasible, the CDO will take necessary measures to ensure proper exam management.

The Board has also called upon agitating teachers to cooperate in the national interest and facilitate the smooth conduct of the Grade 12 examinations.

Approximately 500,000 students are expected to sit for the exams this year. A total of 1,591 examination centres have been arranged, including one in Japan.

The NEB is preparing to deploy around 2,000 staff, 20,000 security personnel, and adequate exam superintendents, deputies, and support staff across centres based on the number of examinees.