KATHMANDU, JUNE 25
Education, Science and Technology Minister and Government Spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel has defended the publication process of the Grade 12 examination results, stating that the results were released on time through improved administrative efficiency rather than haste.
The minister's remarks came after a group of Grade 12 students staged a protest at Maitighar Mandala, demanding free retotalling and rechecking of answer sheets, as well as an explanation from the National Examination Board regarding the results.
According to the examination board, 332,241 students appeared for the Grade 12 examinations this year. Of them, 231,770 students passed, while 100,471 failed to secure the minimum required grades.
In a social media post on Thursday, Minister Pokharel said he had previously made his position on the board's result-processing mechanism clear and remained confident about its credibility.
"The results were not published in haste. Additional manpower was mobilized and unnecessary administrative procedures were shortened to ensure that the results were published within the scheduled timeframe," he stated.
While expressing confidence in the examination process, the minister said the government respects the students' right to peacefully express their concerns in a democratic society.
He also voiced concern over what he described as negative and disrespectful comments directed at protesting students on social media, urging the public to refrain from abusive language and personal attacks against individuals or groups engaged in peaceful demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has formed a committee to conduct a sample-based review of answer sheets and verify examination scores and data-entry procedures. The committee includes representatives from the ministry and the Curriculum Development Centre.
The National Examination Board has yet to issue an official public response to the students' demands.
