The Ministry of Education has decided to provide reference books for Grade X students in eight districts of the Tarai through local non-government organisations.Although the SLC examinations are beginning from March 31, many students in the Tarai districts have not been able to attend classes regularly due to the ongoing political unrest.

Hence, there were requests from various quarters to change the academic calendar. However, as the government refused to change the academic calendar, the MoE had decided to provide reference books of three subjects English, science and mathematics to students of districts affected by the ongoing Madhes agitation.

MoE had demanded Rs 20 million to print the reference books and distribute them to around 56,000 students in eight districts Saptari, Siraha, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Bara, Parsa and Rautahat  but the finance ministry refused to provide the budget in the midst of fiscal year.

MoE had planned to provide reference books to students of these districts free of cost.

The 18-point commitment issued by Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel had also pledged to provide reference materials to students.

Ima Narayan Shrestha, director, National Centre for Educational Development said, “Now the local NGOs will be printing and distributing reference books called ‘Bidhyarthi Avhyas Pustika’ (students exercise book) to SLC students in eight Tarai districts.”

He also informed that the reference books were prepared by NCED last year to provide them to students of 84 open schools.

“Due to lack of printing papers, printing of reference books is likely to get delayed,” he claimed.

He further said that the NGOs have been targeting to make the books available to students by the first week of February.

Meanwhile, the NCED has also been disseminating educational content through radio and television.

source:the himalayan times,21 jan 2016