EDUCATION NEWS IN NEPAL
Kathmandu Metro Postponed Education Fair Following Controversy Regarding Pre-Registration Process
Date: Ashadh 1, 2080
Introduction:
Following the inauguration of the 8th Kantipur Hisan Education Fair by Speaker Devraj Ghimire, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City organized a KMC force, but controversy arose when it was discovered that some schools were conducting pre-registration and collecting students’ phone numbers along with providing information about class 11.
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City organized a KMC force after Speaker Devraj Ghimire inaugurated the 8th Kantipur Hisan Education Fair at Bhrikutimandap. The employees of the Metropolitan Municipality were present as guardians, and students attended the fair. Initially, the fair was claimed to provide information solely about class 11, but KMC employees observed that some schools were also collecting information about fees, scholarships, and conducting pre-registration.
Sitaram Koirala, the head of the education department of KMC, stated, “We discovered that pre-registration was being conducted. They were collecting the students’ phone numbers as well.”
Upon learning about these findings, the employees immediately reported the matter to the secretariat of KMC, and it eventually reached the attention of KMC chief, Balen Shah. Under Balen Shah’s direction, the Metropolitan Police, led by KMC’s security chief Raju Pandey, was deployed to the fairground. They requested the organizers to vacate the premises, postponed the fair, and instructed them to seek permission from KMC for future events.
Consequently, the organizers, students, and parents were swiftly evacuated from the fair, and the premises were locked. Officials from Hisan reached Kathmandu Metropolitan City at 5 pm on Thursday for discussions with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Education Department. During the meeting, Hisan officials assured that they would not register students or engage in any admission-related activities, but solely provide information about the subject matter.
Koirala, the head of the metropolitan education department, sent a message to Balen through social media expressing his commitment to this course of action. In response, Balen replied with a clear and concise “No.”
Koirala stated, “Since the chief replied ‘no,’ there is no possibility of holding the fair today or until he says ‘yes’.”
Kathmandu Metropolitan City issued a public notice on Friday morning at 10:00 am, officially announcing the postponement of the fair.
This incident strained the fair organizers and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology relationship. The delayed announcement of the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) results has caused tension between ministry officials and private school owners. The municipality’s involvement in asserting its authority over school-level matters, which fall under the jurisdiction of the local level, is attracting attention and raising questions.
In Conclusion: The controversy surrounding the pre-registration and collection of students’ phone numbers during the 8th Kantipur Hisan Education Fair led to its immediate postponement by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The municipality’s intervention has created tension between fair organizers and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology.
Attribution: KMC
#Education Fair, #Kathmandu Metropolitan City , #Pre-registration, #Controversy, #Secondary Education Examination (SEE), #Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
CTA: Stay tuned for further updates on the 8th Kantipur Hisan Education Fair and its potential rescheduling by KMC.
