By Ann M. Koenig, AACRAO International Education Services, and
Selena Malla, Educational Adviser, EducationUSA Advising Center, U.S. Educational Foundation in Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Just as schools and universities were preparing for examinations at the end of the academic year, the 7.9 earthquake that hit Nepal on Saturday, April 25, inflicted widespread damage on educational institutions in many areas. Initially officials announced that classes could resume again on May 15, but a 7.3 aftershock on May 12 led to a decision to close all schools and suspend the completion of the academic year until further assessments could be made. Destructive aftershocks continue.
University World News reported on April 29 that over 80% of Nepal’s 8.4 million school and university students are affected. The Ministry of Education reported that the most extensive damage occurred to primary and secondary schools, with close to 6,000 public school buildings and 500 private school buildings destroyed. The areas hit hardest serve about 25% of the approximately 7.5 million school children in pre-primary through grade 12.
Effects on Higher Secondary Examinations
According to a May 18 article in Kantipur.com, "Around half a million students are studying in around 3,400 higher secondary schools across the country."
In the hardest-hit areas, the seven districts of Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha and Ramechhap, the Higher Secondary Examination Board (HSEB) has decided to postpone indefinitely the HSEB Grade 11 and Grade 12 examinations that had originally been scheduled for May 3. According to the vice-chairman of the Board, examinations cannot be conducted in these districts yet, because the majority of the examination centers have been destroyed by the earthquake and there is still danger from continuing aftershocks.
In other areas of Nepal, the HSEB Class 11 and 12 examinations have been rescheduled for June 3-14 (for Class 12 students) and June 16-27 (for Class 11 students), approximately one month later than the original dates. Some test centers are being modified for the examinations. The HSEB plans to station medical teams at exam centers in Kathmandu Valley "to cope with any medical emergencies that might occur among the panic-stricken students who have just experienced the large scale death and devastation caused by April 25 Great quake and endless series of aftershocks."
British-Based Examinations Cancelled and Postponed
The British Council has posted information about the examinations if offers in Nepal on its Nepal Web page. The May/June session of A-Level and AS-Level examinations in Nepal has been cancelled. Students will be able to take those examinations in November. Please consult the British Council’s Nepal Web page for further information about these examinations and other British-based examinations that are affected.
University-Related Issues
Tribhuvan University (TU), which as Nepal’s largest educational institution enrolls about 90% of the country’s 541,000 university students, lost its main administration building, including the offices of the vice-chancellor, rector, controller of examinations and the deans of the departments. Under the TU umbrella are 60 constituent colleges, almost 1200 affiliated colleges, and the administration of secondary school leaving examinations. Reports in University World News state that 14 constituent colleges and 223 affiliated colleges were fully or partially destroyed, along with 16 departments. Because of the widespread destruction, initially all TU examinations were postponed indefinitely. During the President of Nepal’s visit to the central offices on May 27, TU officials presented a plan to resume classes on June 5.
Kathmandu University, Nepal’s second largest university, located about 20 miles from city of Kathmandu, also sustained damage in the first earthquake on April 25, but had already resumed classes when the substantial May 12 aftershock hit. University officials have announced that they wish to resume operations as soon as possible. They are aiming to reopen the institution after June 13.
The education sector, like the general population in the affected areas, is traumatized. The Ministry of Education is requiring all institutions to provide counseling to teachers before resuming classes, and in turn asking teachers to facilitate counseling for their students once they return to class.
Further Updates and Information
Further information and updates can be found on the Web sites of education authorities in Nepal and various news outlets.
Higher Secondary Education Board
Tribhuvan University
Kathmandu University
Comments from the US Educational Foundation in Nepal, EducationUSA
Selena Malla, EducationUSA adviser in Nepal, graciously took some time to share comments about the situation in Nepal that she hopes will be helpful to US admissions offices and international student advisors. Her first email, on April 29, four days after the earthquake, informed us that “many families are camping outside because their houses were damaged or destroyed, and they are too scared to go back inside. Most of our students still will not have reliable or any access to electricity, phone, and Internet.” She asked that US admissions offices extend their deadlines for admitted Nepali applicants to submit their “intent to register” forms, which are generally due by May 1.
By May 27 her office had resumed operations but, she wrote, “Things are really not feeling very normal at all. We are accustomed now to evacuating students during the frequent aftershocks, some of which are quite strong. I don’t think there is a single building in Kathmandu which doesn’t have cracks. Thankfully, our staff and immediate families are safe.”
Selena asks the US international admissions community to make special consideration for applicants and students from Nepal: “Due to examination delays, for A-Level students particularly, I would like to request where possible that U.S. college and university admissions offices extend Fall 2016 application deadlines for students from Nepal.
“Similar delays will exist for students enrolled in higher education in Nepal, so any admissions deadlines flexibility from graduate schools would also be highly appreciated.
“And finally, for U.S. institutions welcoming Nepali students this fall, many students will be facing changed financial circumstances in the aftermath of the earthquakes due to loss/injury of family members or loss/damage to properties. I would encourage U.S. HEIs to reach out to their incoming Nepali students to discuss any changes in circumstances and offer any additional financial aid options for affected students.”