Kathmandu, May 14

The Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization of Nepal (PABSON) and the National Private and Boarding Schools’ Association of Nepal (N-PABSAN) have expressed their serious concern over the obstruction of teaching and learning activities in schools owing to the general strikes enforced by different ethnic and regional communities at various places of the country.

The umbrella organizations of the schools run in the private sector in the country have also called on the sides concerned to help create environment conducive for the smooth running of schools.

PABSON general secretary D. K. Dhungana said they are strongly in favour of running classes and are against any bandh. He added that they are mulling closing schools if the general strikes continued for long.

Meanwhile, the PABSON, Jhapa district chapter has decided to close schools for 15 days effective today, citing what it called the ‘deteriorating political condition in the country and the lack of environment conducive for running classes’.

Similarly, schools in Nawalparasi district have also been closed for two weeks due to the ongoing general strike in the region. The Nepal Teachers’ Union, Nepal Republican Teachers’ Association and PABSON, Nawalparasi chapter announced the closure of schools for that period in a joint appeal, citing continuous general strike in the district for the last six days.Likewsie, the National Skill Testing Board of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) has launched a skill test throughout the country for providing internationally recognized certificates to the poor people with skills in hands but without any certificates. The CTEVT is conducting free skill tests on 5,400 people with the assistance of Rs. 40 million provided by the World Bank. The skill tests will be conducted until June 1, Board Director, Chandra Bhakta Nakarmi, said.The skill tests are being conducted at the Board’s Office at Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, the Technical School, Sanothimi, the Balaju Engineering and Technology College, the Thapathali Engineering College, Valley College, the Mahalaxmi Culinary Art and Dell Institute in Kathmandu.

Similarly, such tests are being conducted in Damak, Birtamod, Biratnagar, Sunsari, Lahan, Birgunj, Hetaunda, Chitwan, Gajuri, Nuwakot, Butwal, Nawalparasi, Kawasoti, Rapti Technical school-Dang, the Bheri Technical School-Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, and Mahendranagar outside the Valley.