THT 10 years ago: Leak spurs SLC Nepali paper cancellation

Kathmandu, April 5, 2007

The Ministry of Education and Sports today cancelled today’s compulsory Nepali examination in Bhaktapur district after the question papers leaked out there today.

Minister for Education and sports Pradeep Nepal, after a 14-hour-long meeting at the Education ministry, told mediapersons that the examination for today’s subject would be held on April 13 in the district.

There are 19 exam centres and 5,575 students are appearing for the exams this year in the district.

Nepal also said that all the other examinations would be held as scheduled even in Bhaktapur. The ministry also appointed Arjun Bahadur Bhandari, the under secretary at the Education Ministry the acting controller of the Office of the Controller of Examinations (OCE).

The exams controller, Purna Bahadur Ranabhat, was transferred to the Education Ministry effective today. Another staffer of the confidential department of the OCE was also transferred to the Ministry. Officials, however, did not name the employee.

The meeting also formed a 3-member probe committee headed by Kedar Prasad Poudel, joint secretary at the Law Ministry. It has been asked to submit a report on the paper leak within 15 days.

The OCE held the emergency meeting after question papers of the compulsory Nepali subject was leaked in Bhaktapur district. The newly appointed Minister for Education and Sports headed the meeting attended by SLC board members.

Earlier in the morning, police arrested Keshav Shrestha and Prakash Man Shrestha, teachers of the Ganesh High School in Bhaktapur, for allegedly leaking out the question papers.

NAST to award 12 scientists every year

The Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has decided to give away seven awards every year to 12 people working for the development of science and technology.

Now on, the awards will be conferred every December, the anniversary of the NAST. The awards are Bigyan Tatha Prabhidi Pragya Puraskar, Yuva Bigyan Tatha Prabhidi Puraskar, Pragya Pratisthan Bigyan Tatha Prabhidi Prabardan Puraskar, Biswo Bigyan Pragya Pratisthan Puraskar, Mohan Dhoj Basnet Prabhidi Pragya Puraskar, Bhuwaneshwor Prabhidi Puraskar and Jit Bahadur Nakarmi Dhatu Prabhidi Puraskar.

“Though lots of awards are given away in Nepal to people working in different sectors, the NAST is the only institution that awards people working in the field of science and technology,” Omni Acharya, Research Grant and Award Programme officer at the NAST, said.

Inventions made by candidates, researches conducted and contributions made by the candidates in the field of science and technology will be taken into account while selecting the awardees, Acharya said.