Kathmandu, April 16
Amid criticisms that the federal government is reluctant to close schools across the country for a few weeks to save children from the coronavirus infection, the Ministry of Education has handed over this right to the District Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre.
A meeting of the ministry officials made the decision on Friday, informs an official. Education Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha, who has been accused of reluctance to make a decision despite the recommendation from the Ministry of Health, had chaired the meeting.
Shrestha’s press coordinator Ishwar Dhakal says the meeting also fixed new standards for the schools so as to improve safety measures there. Accordingly, the institutions have been restricted from organising any functions such as anniversary celebrations inside the school.
The decision comes one day after the Health Ministry under the federal government urged people in 14 districts including Kathmandu to avoid crowds such as schools. As reported, the ministry had resorted to issuing an appeal after the Ministry of Education refused to close schools.
