As a precautionary measure against coronavirus, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on March 3 directed the schools across the country to conduct the final exams up to Grade 9 before March 18.

The ministry’s directive has thrown the academic schedule of many schools out of gear. This time of the year is when most schools complete their courses and squeeze in a brief revision period before the students sit for the finals.

Schools across the country have been hard-pressed to complete their courses and get their students ready for the finals by the ministry’s directive.

Shree Vidhya Aarjan English Secondary School in Mulpani, Kathmandu, has decided to run its classes even on Saturdays and other public holidays to wrap up the courses.

“Our teachers and parents were not happy with the decision, but they finally conceded for the sake of students,” Ghanendra Bhattarai, the school’s principal, told the Post.

The school had originally planned to conduct its final exams from March 27.

Om Gyan Mandir Secondary School in Bhaktapur has also decided to run its classes on Saturdays to meet the latest exams deadline.

“The decision has not just upset the teachers but also the students. Everything has been rushed and there is no break,” said a school staff on the condition of anonymity.

As for the schools that have already completed their courses, they too have decided to slash the number of holidays for course revision.

Aakash Deep English School in Dakshindhoka, Kathmandu, ran its classes for a half-day on Sunday, which was a public holiday for the International Women’s Day.

“We have completed the course. But we conducted our classes for a half-day on Sunday for course revision,” said Anil Parajuli, the school’s principal.

As schools across the country are scrambling to complete their courses, Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization (PABSON) has advised teachers to prepare exam questions only from those chapters that they have finished teaching.

“Some schools have been affected by the government’s decision, but they can prepare as they see fit without burdening the teachers and the students,” Puri told the Post.