Kathmandu, November 18

Private and boarding schools in the Kathmandu Valley that were closed for major festivals resumed full-fledged classes from today.

Private schools had been forced to prolong holidays due to acute shortage of petroleum products. Although many schools had been closed from October 13 to November 13 for Dashain and Tihar festivals, some of them remained closed till yesterday for the Chhath festival.

Now that all major festivals are over, schools were under pressure to resume classes at any cost. The government has made it mandatory for schools to run classes for at least 220 days in an academic session as per the Education Regulations.

Meanwhile, a delegation from Association of Private Educational Institutions, Nepal today met with the Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel to draw his attention towards the impact of fuel crisis on the education sector.

Karna Bahadur Shahi, president of National Private and Boarding Schools Association of Nepal, who is also president of Steering Committee of APEIN, today said that the talks with education minister was very positive.

“Minister Pokharel has taken our suggestions seriously and assured us that the problem would be resolved soon,” said Shahi, adding they have urged the government to designate separate filling stations to supply fuel to schools.

Shahi said the Valley consumes 300,000 litres of fuel everyday. Of this, academic institutions consume 20 per cent.

DK Dhungana, general secretary, Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal, said, “We have urged the government to create conditions to ensure children their right to education.”

He said the education minister has pledged to support private academic institutions. “We are hopeful that the government will come up with some solution during our meeting with the supply minister tomorrow.”