Schools with polling stations, booths to be closed for 3 days

BY A STAFF REPORTER Kathmandu, May 7: The government has decided to close schools with polling stations and polling booths for three days for polling purpose.  The Centre for Education Human Resource Development (CEHRD) of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST) stated that the schools will remain closed on May 11, 12 and 13 for the purpose.

The CEHRD instructed all Education Development and Coordination Unit (EDCU) across the country not to make physical presence of students in polling stations as the school building has to be used for the purpose of polling.

The centre also asked local governments across the country to comply with the decision. It also asked the school management to provide alternative means of education to the students during that period. The election commission also stated that almost all polling station are planned to be kept on school premises. 

However, teachers demanded leave even for them in the election to exercise their rights to vote. Surya Prasad Ghimire, headmaster of Lalitpur-based Pragati Secondary School, said the government asked to engage children in alternative learning during the election period but teachers also need to travel to their hometowns to exercise their voting rights. He demanded to revise the decision.

It is not logical to start classes through alternative ways at the start of the new academic session, Ghimire said.