After the government decided to grant a public holiday on Sunday, a debate has begun on whether school and university courses can be completed within the specified academic session. Citing the petroleum fuel crisis due to the Gulf War, the cabinet meeting on March 22 decided to close government offices and educational institutions for two days, Saturday and Sunday. 

Based on the same decision, the Ministry of Education has decided to grant two days off a week to educational institutions, enroll students only from April 15, and conduct classes from April 21. Stakeholders and experts have expressed concern that the government's decision will affect teaching and learning from schools to universities. They have also pointed out the risk that giving two days off will reduce the duration of classes and result in courses not being completed. They suggest that the curriculum load should be reduced or the teaching period should be extended. 

Although government offices are said to operate from 9 am to 5 pm, the government has not extended the period for educational institutions. The ministry has asked them to prepare and implement educational programs according to the additional public holidays. Based on the same decision, the Education and Human Resource Development Center has also directed the local level and schools to implement educational programs according to the changed academic session and public holidays. 

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Headmasters' Association President Sudam Gautam said that the course cannot be completed even if Sunday is given as a holiday. He said that there is no option but to adjust the curriculum or extend the duration of class operation. 'Principals from all over the country have complained that the course cannot be completed by conducting classes only 5 days a week,' he said. 'We are in discussions with the ministry and the Curriculum Development Center.' He expressed concern that the learning period of students will decrease due to the extension of public holidays. 'Completing the course with 5 days of teaching time a week is risky. We should discuss the option of teaching the whole day on Friday, or adding a few minutes daily,' Gautam said. 

He believes that students should be compensated for two public holidays a week. 'The notice of the holiday came suddenly. What can be done to complete the course? There was no discussion. How will internal evaluation, coordination with the local level be done? It is not yet clear what the activity of the school and teachers will be. It seems that this will cause problems,' he said. Gautam said that while classes are conducted only 5 days a week, policies and procedures are needed to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the curriculum across the country.

Avtar Subedi, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Education of Tribhuvan University, said that the two-day holiday will not provide enough time to complete the course. 'The curriculum from school to university is designed to be taught in 6 days. It cannot be completed in 5 days,' he said, who is also an expert in mathematics. 'If two days of holiday are to be given, the curriculum should be revised.' He suggested that the curriculum of each class and subject should be revised and the content reduced. 'It is difficult to complete the course from school to university level. If the specified course is to be completed, it is difficult to implement the holiday,' he said.

The Curriculum Development Center has stated that it has started looking for options to complete the curriculum even when Sunday is a public holiday. ‘It is challenging to complete the course in the current situation. We are looking for options. We will reach a decision in a few days,’ said Purushottam Ghimire, director of the center. He said that since the curriculum has decided how many hours of teaching will be given for which subject, it cannot be changed.

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The center has stated that discussions are underway on increasing the duration of teaching or adjusting the curriculum. ‘It has been stipulated that teaching should be given from 96 hours to 128 and 160 hours in a subject. When a holiday is given on Sunday, that time automatically decreases,’ said Director Ghimire, ‘We are in discussions on how to make a solution.’ Kosh Bahadur GC, central president of the Nepal National Parents’ Association, said that the government’s decision has left students, parents and schools confused.

‘If the decision to close educational institutions on Sundays was made only temporarily, then the decision is right. But if it is going to be implemented permanently, then it is objectionable,’ he said. He said that since the government has asked to make a year-round academic calendar with Sundays as a holiday, there is confusion as to whether the decision is temporary or permanent. 

‘If schools are closed for two days a week, the number of days that schools will be open in a year will not even reach 100. In that case, the students’ course will not be completed. This decision is not in the interest of students and parents,’ he said. Chairman GC said that parents are demanding that schools should be opened on Sundays as well after the supply of petroleum products becomes easier.