The Government of Nepal launched the Student Enrollment Campaign on April 15 with the slogan “Ensuring every child’s participation in school and access to quality education.” Although the government initiated the campaign, the program has been affected in Myagdi due to the ongoing protest by the Nepal Teachers Association. Teachers and school staff from community schools have been protesting in Kathmandu by putting forward various demands. Despite the disruption to the enrollment campaign, the Parents Teachers Association and the School Management Committee have distributed textbooks to students. The examinations scheduled for April 17 and April 18 for students who failed or wished to improve their grades in the Grade Eight exams conducted by Beni Municipality have also been put on hold. Beni Municipality Chief Surat KC stated that the examination was postponed due to the ongoing protest by the Nepal Teachers Association.
Dipak Shrestha, Principal of Beni Community Secondary School in Beni Municipality-7, stated that although the school has distributed textbooks to visiting students, it has not yet initiated the enrollment process. Likewise, Yadav Subedi, Chairperson of the School Management Committee distributed textbooks to students of Jamunakhark Secondary School in Beni Municipality-6. Surat KC, Mayor of Beni Municipality, said that enrolling students is the responsibility of individual schools, and they may have already done so. He added that the central-level enrollment campaign will continue within the municipality until April 28. However, the schools have stated that they have not yet enrolled any students.
Thagaraj Baruwal, Principal of Muktimarga Secondary School in Ghar, Annapurna Rural Municipality-6 of northern Myagdi, said they are currently in Kathmandu as part of the protest and that there is no certainty yet regarding when student enrollment will begin or when classes will resume. Ashok Rijal, from the Education Section of Malika Rural Municipality in western Myagdi, stated that although the municipality has decided to proceed with student enrollment, the schools have not yet implemented the decision.
Similarly, the enrollment campaign has not yet started in Thasang Rural Municipality of Mustang. Bikash Pariyar, Chief Administrative Officer of the municipality, stated that further information will be available after the executive meeting scheduled for April 23, but so far, no steps have been taken regarding the enrollment campaign. Likewise, Mohan Singh Lalchan, Chairperson of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, stated that no decision has been made yet regarding the enrollment campaign or the operation of classes. He mentioned that although there are plans to adjust or compensate the current leave with other holidays, the enrollment process and class operation remain uncertain.
According to Bikash KC, Chief Administrative Officer of Lomanthang Rural Municipality, no decision has been made so far, and it is not possible to confirm anything regarding student enrollment at this point. The situation remains the same in Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality and Lodhekar Damodar Kunda Rural Municipality as well.