To close schools over the coronavirus scare or not? Lack of coordination between officials at different levels of government has led to confusions among students and their guardians.

However, within a few hours after the decision, the Ministry of Federal Affairs issued a circular to all local governments asking them not to shut schools. The ministry asked the municipalities to implement the federal government’s decision to close schools only after March 18, the day the annual exams are to conclude.

“We revoked our decision today (Saturday) following the circular,” Nirp Bahadur Odd, mayor of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolis, told the Post. “Though we had the authority to decide on our own, we have decided to cooperate with the centre.”

Around seven million students in 36,000 schools across the country await their final annual exams. Around half-a-million are to take the Secondary Education Exam (SEE).

Odd said though the city’s decision to shut schools was right, it had to be revoked as the provincial government and other municipalities in the province didn’t stand with Dhangadhi on the decision.

Parents of schoolchildren say decisions taken by different governments without coordination has increased confusion among students. “Contradictory decisions passed by centre and local governments have led to confusion among students,” Yadav Sharma, chairperson of Nepal Guardian’s Association, told the Post.

On Thursday, the government rejected requests by school administrators and guardians to shut schools across the country in the face of the Covid-19 threat. They had suggested that the annual exams be postponed for a month.

The federal government has already decided to close schools after students complete their annual examinations. Authorities are preparing to conduct the Secondary Education Examinations from March 11.

Federal officials, meanwhile, say there was no need to shut schools immediately. “The local governments should observe if there are immediate threats to the schools,” said Tulashi Prasad Thapaliya, director general at the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development. He said it would be better if all officials at all three tiers of government adopt similar positions on the issue.

Talking to the Post on Thursday, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel said the government wants the examinations completed before the annual holidays so that the new academic year begins on time. The new academic year begins on the second day of the Nepali New Year (mid-April).