KATHMANDU, Aug 7: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has recommended to the Central Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to put off the annual examinations of Grade XII scheduled to begin from August 15. 

Acting on the recommendations made by the MoHP, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has called a meeting of National Education Board (NEB) for further discussions on Saturday whether to put off the examinations. Discussions are currently underway whether to put off the examinations or change their modality.

NEB Chairman Chandra Mani Paudel confirmed that they have received the letter to reconsider the scheduled examinations in view of the rising cases of COVID-19. The country is currently recording 3500 new cases a day on an average. 

Paudel said that they had earlier sent a letter to the MoHP requesting vaccination against COVID-19 to students taking the exmainations and teachers deputed for conducting the examination scheduled to begin from August 15. The NEB had also requested the MoHP to make an arrangement of a separate health desk in each examination center.

"We have come to learn that the MoHP has written to CCMC that they are unable to provide vaccines to teachers and students and setting up health desk at each examination center was also not possible," Paudel told Republica. "The Ministry of Education has sought our opinion whether to defer the examination. A meeting of the NEB Board on Saturday will take necessary decision."

NEB Officials said they have already completed preparations to conduct the examinations for about 400,000 students in their physical presence.   

NEB Examination Controller Krishna Sharma said they have already given orientations to examination superitendents across the country to properly manage examinations in view of the outbreak of the COVID-19. "Political parties have been organizing mass demonstrations drawing huge crowds. What's wrong in conducting examination while exercising necessary health protocols?" he asked.

"The examination of Grade XII paves the way to the university. This must be conducted in physical presence of students. Our students will be able to sell themselves in the global market by carrying COVID-19 certificates," he further said.

Paudel said that they have made necessary arrangements to keep only 25 students in a class with one student in one bench. "We have also ensured home center across the country. The examinations can be conducted by following proper health safety standards," he added. He said that all the examinations of Tribhuvan University are currently being conducted in the physical presence of students. Similarly, around 32,000 aspirants of MBBS course also particiated in physical examination recently. 

 
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