KATHMANDU, AUGUST 20
The Committee on Education and Health under the House of Representatives has urged the government to conduct Grade XII exams by ensuring health and safety protocol. The committee argued the repeated postponement of exams would cause negative impact on students.
The committee meeting held today expressed concern over why the Grade XII exams were postponed while other university exams were being held as usual. Committee member Man Bahadur Bishwokarma viewed the exams of universities across the country and of international board were being held physically, so only the exams of Grade XII must not be put on hold.
The students, who were outside Kathmandu valley, had to return to the valley time and again owing to repeated postponement of exams, he added.
Similarly, another member Surendra Kumar Yadav complained that engineering colleges were collecting fees under the heading sports and excursion from the students even when they were taking online classes staying home due to COVID-19.
Former minister and committee member Giriraj Mani Pokhrel also stressed the need of holding physical exams.
Members Hit Bahadur Tamang and Jivan Ram Shrestha wondered why the CCMC was not working on its own discretion.
Consultation with various bodies of the government was essential before deciding to postpone the Grade XII exams, they argued.
Committee member Suresh Kumar Rai stressed the need for reforming the CCMC, saying it was imposing its monopoly.
Namita Chaudhary shed light on difficulties on holding online classes due to the problem of load shedding in city areas, including Kathmandu, and lack of internet in many rural areas while Ekwal Miya suggested that examinations of Grade XII be taken in more than one phases.
Committee President Jayapuri Gharti said that the state should be serious about the Grade XII exam.
Chairperson of the National Examination Board Prof Dr Chandra Mani Poudel asked for valid reasons for postponing the exams despite all preparations, Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Ram Prasad Thapaliya blamed CCMC for postponing the examinations at the eleventh hour. All students in Kathmandu Valley taking exams were vaccinated against COVID-19, he said.
"Both the board and the ministry are in favour of holding the exams," he said.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 21 2021, of The Himalayan Times.