Nov 18, 2015- Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal has said it will be forced to shut schools in the Valley if there is no fuel supply within a week.
Talking to media persons after submitting a memorandum to Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae, Pabson asked the governments of Nepal and India to ease fuel supply. It also demanded recognition for education as an essential service sector.
The memorandum states that the blockade on the border with India has crippled the academic sector. All the academic institutions across the country are set to reopen from Wednesday after a month long vacation for Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals.
“Schools can run hardly for a week if there is no fuel supply,” said Pabson General Secretary DK Dhungana. Pabson had earlier shelved its plan to open schools after Dashain as vehicular movement was restricted due to the shortages of diesel and petrol.
The Association of Private Educational Institutions of Nepal (Apein) has asked the government for 15,000 litres of diesel and petrol daily. Schools and colleges in the Valley use more than 2,000 vehicles to ferry students, for which they need at least 30,000 litre fuel each day. Apein said it asked only for half its need considering the national crisis.
An Apein team will meet ministers for Education, Home and Supplies on Wednesday. “Further decision will be made based on the outcome of the meetings,” said Pabson Chairman Lachhe Bahadur KC.
Students had missed 26 school days after the April 25 earthquake. The government and Apein had agreed to adjust the academic calendar by cutting on vacation and festival holidays.
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