Kathmandu -  This week most of the news discussed the surging covid cases and schools being a vulnerable ground that could spread the virus. News continuously reported the updates and follow up on the issue from Health minister’s recommendation for shutting schools in bigger cities, alternative classes in coming year, news of schools alerted against surge in COVID cases and shutdowns by different municipalities, government directed to adopt alternative teaching-learning methods by the sustainable development and good governance committee under the national assembly, educational institutions urged by MoEST to avoid gatherings and adopt alternative methods. News about KMC training Nepal Bhasa teacher appointees was also reported this week.

 

- A news reported that the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has urged educational institutions across the country to run classes adopting alternative methods. In view of increasing COVID-19 cases, it also directed the authorities concerned not to organize any assembly or gathering on the premises of educational institutions and follow the School Operation Guidelines-2020 issued by the ministry to run classes. The educational institutions affected by the infection will have to halt all the classes as per the decision of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre. The ministry in a statement had previously informed that local levels have been given authority to take a decision on halting physical classes. 

 

- An opinion article stated that year 2021 is bound to change the way education systems work globally. It stated that education will go online and entertain social media usage for the purpose of learning. It stated that the high rate of infections in foreign countries has put our government in a dilemma over whether to clamp a lockdown this time around. The increasing rate of infection in neighboring countries means that it will also spread in Nepal. In a few cities of Nepal, more than one in five public school children participated in virtual learning. The government does not have the infrastructure to provide education digitally to the less fortunate ones. At present, distance learning in the community schools is challenging. Therefore, it is necessary for the government to bring educational packages that will compensate for the academic loss. It is necessary to plan only after adequate discussion on the option of conducting educational activities according to the impact of the coronavirus at the local level, not the country as a whole.

 

- Another news on mother tongue learning reported that Kathmandu metropolitan city has appointed more female teachers as Nepal Bhasa teachers. The news reported that there was call for 209 positions of which 179 female teachers has been selected. The news also stated that there was raising attraction on mother tongue learning in the public. KMC will be organizing a week long training for these teachers, the news stated. KMC has make it compulsory subject for public schools from class 1 to 8. It has already published textbooks as well. 

 

- Another news stated that a new mobile application ‘Mero School’ was launched this week, targeting distance learning for school students. COVID pandemic has also surged alternative learning forms among students. 

 

A picture reported students studying outside in the shades of the tree, after the corrugated zinc roofs heated the classrooms. 

 

- The lack of contextual design of schools has been a major issue of school environment. Usually in many rural areas, school buildings have become the most expensive yet the most inappropriate build due to lack of contextual design of school buildings. 

 

- News of gradual shutting down of schools across the nation was reported this week. Some letters to the editor also called in for schools and the government to not compromise the welfare of children in the name of education. While other letters suggested continuation of learning through alternative medium despite challenges to access technology in rural settings. 

 

Abbreviations:  COVID- Corona Virus Disease, RM- Rural Municipality, TU- Tribhuvan University, KU-Kathmandu University, AFU- Agriculture and Forestry University, MoEST- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, TUSC- Tribhuvan University Service Commission, NGOs- Non-Governmental Organizations, TUSC- Tribhuvan University Service Commission, CDC: Curriculum Development Centre, ECD- Early Childhood Development, SEE- Secondary Education Examination, PABSON-Private and Boarding Schools Organization Nepal, KMC – Kathmandu Metropolitan City

'Education this Week' is a joint effort to analyze the press coverage of education in Nepal’s selected print media published in Kathmandu. The main aim of this effort is to identify and explain major education issues picked up by the media and give back and foreground the news. This, we believe, will help policy makers and other responsible people to keep abreast with ongoing concerns and discussions on and around education. EduKhabar, in collaboration with the Center for Educational Policies and Practices (CEPP), has produced this analysis based on the news printed in Kantipur (Nepali) and The Himalayan Times (English) between 14- 20April 2021 (1-7 Baisakh, 2078)

Read this analysis in Nepali : कोभिडको जोखिम : बन्द विद्यालय