Some 750 schools in Karnali zone and 17 schools in Manang were closed in late December because of freezing temperature. The schools in Karnali will remain closed till February, while 11 out of the 17 schools in Manang will remain shut till March. [break]
In Jumla schools will remain shut from December 25 to February 8, said Jeewan Bhandari, an official at Jumla District Education Office. Though Education Regulations mandate that schools begin an academic session from mid-April, the session is actually started from mid-March, he said.
“Classes cannot be conducted in January and early February due to cold weather,” he said. “It is difficult to conduct final examinations in February and begin new academic session from mid-April,” he added.
By mid-December, all schools in Karnali conduct term-end exams and are then shut. In Jumla, some 43,000 students of 159 schools are enjoying vacation and teachers are conducting tuition classes in the district headquarter.
Last year, schools in the low-altitude areas of Kalikot began academic year from mid-April, while those in the higher altitude began the session from late-February. But this year, all schools in the district are starting a new academic session from late-February, according to Ana Prasad Neupane, chief education officer of the district. There are 290 schools and 54,000 students in Kalikot.
The picture is the same in Dolpa as well, where academic session has started from late-February for years, according to Khubi Ram Adhikari, chief education officer of Dolpa. “From mid-December to mid-February, it is impossible to conduct classes,” he told Republica over phone.
There are 8,400 students studying in 114 schools in Dolpa. All the schools were shut from December 25.
Similarly, in Mugu, 134 schools tutoring 16,500 students were shut from December 30. The schools will remain shut till February.
In Humla, 15,500 students of 135 schools are also on vacation from December 30. The schools will remain shut till February.
In Manang too, schools were shut from December 25.
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