The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has banned the operation of entrance exam preparation classes and 'bridge courses' for admission to various classes at the school level. Ministry spokesperson Shiva Kumar Sapkota issued a press release on Monday, stating that these programs will be completely closed from April 1.

In addition, various targeted programs at the higher level have been instructed to be closed if they are not in accordance with the prevailing law. On Sunday, the ministry had decided to close 'entrance' classes and 'bridge courses' for higher education from the school level onwards. The ministry has backed away from the decision to apply it to higher education as well.

The Ministry of Education had issued a press release on Sunday stating that it would close 'entrance' and 'bridge courses' for various classes and various levels of higher education. The decision was soon spread in the media and social media. Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel was being praised for taking the appropriate decision. After Minister Pokharel himself made another announcement stating that he had decided to ban 'entrance' and 'bridge courses' only up to grade 12, criticism began saying that there was a contradiction in the minister's decision. 

Ministry spokesperson and Joint Secretary Sapkota had issued a press release on Sunday, announcing that it had decided to close entrance exam preparation classes and 'bridge courses' targeting admissions at various levels. The ministry had mentioned that it had decided to completely close such classes from 1 Baisakh 2083. The ministry had stated that the concerned district administration offices would be requested to monitor and take action if such programs were run.

 'It has been found that various organizations have been running programs in the name of entrance exam preparation classes and bridge courses targeting admissions at various school levels and various levels of higher education before the start of the admission process,' the press release on Sunday said. 'Such programs are likely to have a negative impact on the psychology of students and equitable access to education and will also impose an unnecessary financial burden.'

Minister Pokharel had issued an urgent notice on Sunday night, announcing that it had decided to completely close all types of 'entrance' preparation classes and 'bridge courses' targeting students up to grade 12. He said that it has been decided to stop tuition centers and 'bridge courses' targeting students who will be admitted to class 11 after SEE. 'The decision has been made to stop it immediately as the bridge course will drag students who have given SEE,' Minister Pokharel said. After the minister's information, the ministry removed the statement from the website.

Some institutions have been conducting 'entrance' exam preparation classes for admission to class 1. Various institutions have also started conducting such programs for admission to various classes of large private schools. 'entrance' and 'bridge course' classes are conducted for admission to class 11 in various subjects including science, management, A-level after passing SEE exam. Such classes are also conducted for admission to faculties including medical education, engineering, science and technology after class 12. Such preparatory classes are also conducted for going abroad for higher education.

Educational consultancy services, preparatory classes and language teaching related work have been issued. Educational consultancy services and teaching related guidelines 2073. Section 16 of the Education Act states that no educational consultancy, 'bridge course', language teaching classes or preparatory classes or any educational program conducted in a foreign country shall be allowed without permission. A guideline has been issued in accordance with Section 19 of the Act for the provision of permission to operate such programs.

 The proposal issued in the guideline states that language, teaching, training, preparatory classes and consultancy services for students who want to study higher education in educational institutions at home and abroad should be considered. The guideline states that preparatory classes should be understood as classes that prepare for exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, JLPT, GMAT. The guideline defines 'educational consultancy services as services that prepare students who want to study at home or abroad for admission by selecting subjects, levels and educational institutions or providing consultancy'.

According to the provisions of the constitution, this issue had been in confusion for a decade after the work related to educational consultancy services, preparatory classes and language teaching came under the jurisdiction of the provinces. The registered institutions could not be renewed. Bagmati and Lumbini provinces have issued educational counseling services and language teaching guidelines in accordance with the said authority and have been registering institutions and working on them.