With no end in sight to the ongoing violence and fuel crisis in the country, private education institutions fear that this year's entire academic session might go to waste if the situation does not improve soon. "Fresh violence in Birgunj has raised fear that the academic session might go in vain if the schools cannot run classes even in the post Chhath period," said Karna Bahadur Shahi, chairperson of the Association of Private Education Institutions of Nepal (APEIN).

Closure of schools for 78 days in the Tarai districts has directly affected around 3 million students in the region, whereas the fuel crisis following the obstruction at the Indo-Nepal border has affected students in the capital and other parts of the country. Schools in the capital that pick and drop most of their students are closed till the Tihar festival due to fuel crisis. Higher secondary schools and colleges have also been affected by the indefinite shutdown and the India imposed blockade.

Scheduled exams of technical education and the Kathmandu University have been postponed in view of the current crisis. Educationists say resumption of schools seems unlikley given the attitude of both government and agitating groups. "The best constitutional provisions are of no use when an entire generation faces an uncertain future," said Educationist Bishnu Karki. He suggested the government to arrange informal classes if the schools fear security threat during the school hours.

The UNICEF Nepal earlier expressed concern that millions of students are being deprived of studies due to the protests and the blockade at the Indo-Nepal border. A team of APEIN, including PABSON, NPABSON and HISSAN, had recently met the Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokhrel and urged him to ask top political leaders to create environment for resuming schools. Likewise, the APEIN is also holding informal talks with the agitating parties of Madhes to open schools, said Shahi. "The minister has assured us of a breakthrough by the end of Tihar vacation," he added

source:republica,3 nov 2015