KATHMANDU, Oct 9 – Answer sheets of nearly 19,000 students from Tribhuvan University (TU) and the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) were destroyed during arson carried out in the course of the Gen-G protest on September 8 and 9.
The authorities have announced re-examinations following this development, sparking outcry from affected students.
According to CTEVT, around 60,000 answer sheets belonging to 16,883 diploma and pre-diploma level students were burned. The answer sheets of 23 examination centers — five in Koshi Province and 18 in Bagmati Province -- that were placed at local police stations for safe keeping were burnt.
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“The answer sheets were kept at local police stations after the exams for security. They were destroyed due to the arson,” said Deputy Controller of Examinations Deepika Sharma. She also said that the Council’s Examination Committee has decided to hold re-examinations on November 20 for all affected centers.
Council Member-Secretary Mahesh Bhattarai stated that preparations are underway for the re-exams, stressing that accurate assessment is crucial for the students’ academic and professional futures.
Students demand alternatives to re-examination
Students, however, have voiced against authorities’ decision to set new dates for examination. They have called for alternative evaluation methods such as internal assessments or practical scores. Affected CTEVT students have formed a protest committee and submitted a six-point demand letter to the Council, alleging negligence in the handling and security of answer sheets.
“We should not have to suffer due to the institution’s failure to protect our exam papers,” a student representative stated while submitting the demand letter.
1,500 students from TU impacted
In addition to CTEVT, the arson incident affected about 1,500 students of Tribhuvan University. According to TU Controller of Examinations Surya Prasad Kalauni, answer sheets from campuses in Jhapa, Rautahat, Dang, and Kavre were destroyed. These included partial examinations from the faculties of management, education, and humanities.
TU's Examination Committee has also decided to hold re-examinations, with schedules expected to be announced soon.
