Kathmandu -  This week emergency situation casued by Covid-19 in education topped the list in the media. The MoEST workingon a framework to reopen the schools and MP's suggestion to adopt different frameworks for different regions were reported.Minister for Education Mr Giriraj Mani Pokharel's statement that community school teachers should reach their workplaces by mid-spetember to a meeting of the Education and Health Committee of the Parliament on Friday, a headline carried the news.He also was quoted adding that the Home Ministry will mediate for the passes to travel and PCR test will also be arranged, if needed.

However, later this weekthe news reportedthe Cabinet on Monday decided not to open educational institutions until further notice andsuperseded the previous decision made by MoEST. Before this, the Government was to resume student admission, academic and other examinations from August 17.

Showing concerns over fears created by the rapidly increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, the NEB directing colleges across the country not to conduct Grade 11 examinations until further notice was also reported in the media. In the news, following the previous notice given by the government, there were rumors that some colleges across the nation were preparing to conduct examinations within next month. News reported failure of NEB failing to conduct the board meeting in time delayed the Class 10 (SEE) results. 

Private schools' protest to apply new curriculum for grades 11 and 12 made another headline in education this week. The new curricular framework makes social and life skills education as compulsory subjects in classes 11 and 12.

The media also reported, CDO of Nuwakot district instructing schoolsin the district to adopt alternative learning method prohibiting teaching, coaching and tuition centers. Government has issued Directives for an alternative learning when schools were closed for Covid-19.The deputy director of CEHRD was quoted stating that the effectiveness of alternative education depended on the cooperation among local levels, teachers and parents.

Figure 1 - Education Photo of the week: UN World Food Program provides take-home food to school children in a community school of Bajhang District to ensure continuation of nutrition program children received through day meal programs in schools. Aug 5_2020_MyRepublica

There were opinion and news reports about online classes. An opinion article stated that although the transition from physical classes to online classes seemed to be smooth ride, it has its own set of bumpy patches along its path. It can create digital division between haves and have-nots and mental health problems on children whereas it is also a time for test of teacher's capabilities. A news also reported for the need for directives or guidelines to counduct and monitor online classes to save children's physical and mental health as some countries have already started.

The challenges brought about by Covid-19 are also the opportunities to enhance skills for teaching and management, unlearn old ways of doing things, and upgrade system of governance so that we can equip ourselves with renewed skills, hope, and optimism to navigate through the steep terrain in front of us.

The news on NSU hunger strike demanding the appointment of vacant Vice-Chancellor at PU was followed up by the media.The news regarding the arrest of three members of the NSU in Birgunj for trying to siege DAO was also reported. The news statedthat they were trying to hand over a memorandum to the CDO and were protestingoutside DAO premise for the hospital's refusal to admit patient. On very next day, the news in the arrest of seven members of NSU on the charge of vandalizing the office of Vice Chancellor and Registrar of Education of TU was reported in the media. This incident occurred after police broke three padlocks of TU offices last week following the High Court order, which were locked by NSU and other organizations.

TU is becoming a playground of inconsistent conflict rather than the centers for excellence for research and reflection as the officials appointed in the TU haven’t maintained the dignity of the academic institutions.

Under inclusion and access in education this week, multiple news articles, letters to the editor, and a dedicated editorial discussed that this year’s academic session is in the risk of cancellation if timely measures will not be taken to address its impact in education sector. The news stated that out of 190 days of study in an academic year, four months have already passed due to pandemic questioning if it is possible to complete the academic year in the next eight months. Experts were quoted stating the failure to come up with a clear strategy on how to cope with the situation could lead to the cancellation of the academic session. Letters to editor also blamed teachers and principals for it.There was also opinion stating that one in two girls (about 49 percent) is at high risk of not returning to school.

This time, the pendemic has intruded in academia. Covid-19 has exposed how vulnerable our academia is but it has also exposed how academia tends to exploit the vulnerablilities of others in such difficult times.

In the media, CTEVT central unitbeing given anaffiliation rights for technical education to the Provincial Council this week and the Government recently passed Medical Education Regulations violating the spirit of the Medical Education Act. It seeks to abolish or upgrade CMA / ANM programs, which produce semi-skilled manpower, were reported. In news, According to the Medical Education Struggle Committee, even during the Corona epidemic, medical college operators have been threatening students and parents by demanding money, reported the media.

Other news this week were: part-time teachers of Prithvi Narayan Campus of Pokhara vandalized the campus chief’s office, Sri Lanka reopened government schools, TU's preparation to conduct higher grades without taking the exam, Mayor of the KMC emphasized in improving the quality of the community schools and not on closing down the privateschools.Bishnu Raj Dhami, a 34-year-old teacher of Kalika AadharbhutSchool, Libru in Mugu district has been beaten down by CPN cadres, the skill of many Nepali students in Australia getting of little use, need for TU and higher education to adopt the alternative methods of examination, attraction of Nepal Edu Fair and digital seminars to increase students participation in International Olympiad were reported in the media.

'Education this Week' is a joint effort to analyze the press coverage of education in Nepal’s selected online and 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 of 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), Dailies and online news portal SetoPati, NayaPatrika and The Republica between 5-11 August, 2020 (21-27 Shrawan, 2077) - Editor.

Read this analysis in Nepali : शिक्षामा अनिश्चयको निरन्तरता

Read last week’s analysis : Politics in education dominates the news despite Covid-19 fear

All analysis read by this link : Education This week