SEE postponed after assessing possible risk of COVID-19: Education Minister

KATHMANDU, March 18: The government was bound to postpone Secondary Education Examination (SEE) at the last hour after making a serious assessment of possible risks posed by coronavirus pandemic, clarified Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokhrel.

Even the exams scheduled by the universities were canceled, he added, saying it was done as part of the measurement to prevent the outbreak of the COVID-19.

“New exam schedule would be announced after evaluating the global assessment by WHO and country situation,” he said.

A meeting of the high-level coordination committee on prevention and control of COVID-19 headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwor Pokhrel this evening had decided the postponement of the SEE and university exams.

Earlier in the afternoon, the committee had decided to conduct the SEE in a secure and healthy environment. But after DPM Pokhrel apprised Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of the latest situation, the scheduled SEE was postponed in PM’s direction.

Information to this was shared immediately to the high-level officials at Education Ministry and concerned officials.

For this year, nearly half-million students were appearing the SEE.