Kathmandu Valley Schools to Begin Classes from Baisakh 15, Reversing Federal Government Directive
Local governments within the Kathmandu Valley have decided to begin teaching for the 2083 academic session from Baisakh 15, reversing the federal government’s directive.
A meeting of the Kathmandu Valley Mayors’ Forum held on Monday (Baisakh 9, 2083) decided that the student enrollment campaign will begin from Baisakh 11 and regular classes will start from Baisakh 15.
Earlier, following a Cabinet decision of the Government of Nepal on Chaitra 22, a notice had been issued stating that the enrollment campaign for the 2083 academic session would begin only from Baisakh 15 and teaching would start only from Baisakh 21, 2083. However, the Mayors’ Forum concluded that the federal government’s directive had created confusion in the education sector and interfered with the constitutionally guaranteed rights of local governments in education governance.
In a statement issued by Forum Chair and Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan, all municipalities in the Valley have been requested to implement the educational calendar accordingly. The statement notes that Rule 84 of the Education Regulations, 2059 clearly provides that the school academic session begins on Baisakh 1 and remains in effect until the end of Chaitra.
Exercise of Constitutional Authority
The Mayors’ Forum has cited Schedule 8 of the Constitution of Nepal, 2072 and Section 11(j) of the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 as its main basis. The forum stated that this decision was taken to prevent disruption to regular academic activities because the Constitution fully assigns the authority over basic and secondary education to local levels, and the responsibility for the establishment, approval, operation, and regulation of schools lies with local governments under Nepal’s education administration system.
The statement says, “Serious attention has been drawn to the fact that while most local bodies had already prepared their own educational calendars, the federal government’s recent notice created confusion in school operation and affected regular academic activities.”
Suggestions from Stakeholders and Court Order
The decision was also based on the interim order issued by the Supreme Court on Chaitra 20, 2082 regarding student enrollment, as well as suggestions from various educational institutions.
Bodies such as the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal, Nepal Municipal Association, Teachers’ Federation, PABSON, NPABSON, and Parents’ Association had been urging that classes should begin soon in order to minimize possible losses in student learning achievement.
Fuel Crisis and Alternative Teaching
The Mayors’ Forum has also expressed concern over the ongoing fuel crisis in the country. It has urged schools to prioritize the use of electric vehicles so that school operation is not affected if fuel shortages worsen in the coming days.
If the shortage of fuel creates a situation where physical classes cannot be conducted, the forum has directed all concerned schools to make prior arrangements for other alternatives, including online classes, so that students’ studies are not interrupted.
