Millions of students in the Tera districts of southern Nepal bordering India, have been deprived of education for the last three weeks owing to the political unrest over the country's proposed new Constitution.
Nearly 3.2 million students, accounting for over 40 per cent of the total student population from pre-primary to higher secondary level, have been compelled to stay home due to the ongoing protests over the new Constitution which has claimed the lives of over 20 people, including policemen.
Though over two dozen parties, including those leading the protests, have agreed to recognise schools as zone of peace, they have not honoured the deal.
Consequently, over 20,000 schools and colleges have remained closed with students often being at the forefront of the protests.
Following reports that students comprised a significant mass in the protest, the National Human Rights Commission has asked the concerned parties to create a safe environment for students to return to their classes.
Together with the 26-day closure in the aftermath of the massive earthquakes, the schools have already lost about 50 days of the total 220 academic days of the calendar year.
Violent protests ensued in various districts of Western Nepal and Terai districts after four parties agreed on six provinces model on August 8.
While protests in most of the Hill districts have largely subsided after the parties addressed their concerns with the seven-province model, the protests continued unabated in Terai.
Khagendra Nepal, spokesperson at the Department of Education (DoE), said as it is purely a political issue they are not in a position to intervene in running the schools.
However, we have directed all the District Education Offices to reach out to the protesters to seek their help in resuming the academic institutions, he said.
Nepal said the academic calendar year would be adjusted by cutting down holidays and examination days.
The DoE is preparing to open the classes between Dashain and Tihar, and during winter vacation this year to compensate the damage caused by strikes, he added.
Similarly, the private schools operators have said that they are ready to resume the classes if the government assures them of security.
The schools in the Terai district are desperately waiting to reopen, said Lachhe Bahadur KC, chairman of the Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal.
