Jun 03, Kathmandu- The government's decision to start the new academic session in the Himalayan districts from Baisakh has created a problem in the schools of the Himalayan districts.

This decision has made the education of 9 Himalayan districts including Mustang and Manang uncomfortable and a challenge.

With the ministerial decision to start the academic session in Baishakh in all 77 districts of the country from now on, the students of the Himalayan districts are seen to be in trouble.

Earlier, in the Himalayan districts, after completing the annual examination in November, the first week of the new academic session was being conducted. In view of this academic calendar, schools in the Himalayan districts had a tradition of giving winter holidays in the months of Paush and Magh.

45 days of official leave given by the government and an additional 15 days of leave in lieu of a total of 60 days of leave were given in the months of Paush and Magh.

The parents of the students here are dissatisfied with the change in academic sessions. Praju Gurung, a parent of Jomsom, said that the decision made by the government is not appropriate, regardless of the geographical situation and adverse weather conditions.

He said that it is necessary to coordinate with the Himalayan districts to maintain the academic session of the past. Snowfall and extreme cold in Mustang make life very difficult. It seems that the decision to implement the last academic session will make it difficult for the students of the Himalayan region to take the annual exam in the month of Chaitra.

During the 2-month long vacation of Pus and Magh, the course taught by the school throughout the year, the students tend to forget, so the students cannot achieve the results as expected.

The weather is unfavorable for both teachers and students when classes are conducted in the winter months of March and January after the government holidays are cut off during winter. Students and teachers cannot go to school even if they want to. For this reason, experts believe that the government should look at the education policy of the Himalayan region differently.

Rameshwar Lamichhane, head of the education development and coordination unit, mentioned that since the decision of the cabinet level of the government has made the academic session the same, there is an obligation to implement it in the Himalayan district as well.

"We have to follow the government's decisions and circulars, as we are a federal office, its responsibility rests with us", said Unit Head Lamichhane, '"It is not bad to conduct the annual examination in the month of Chaitra, it should be managed by the local levels".