Kathmandu – Education, Science, and Technology Minister Bidya Bhattarai is experiencing an influx of phone calls requesting her intervention in securing school admissions. This phenomenon has become particularly noticeable since she assumed her role. According to Minister Bhattarai, these calls primarily come from parents who believe her recommendation could guarantee their child a spot at some of the most sought-after schools.
"As the school admission season peaks, there is increasing pressure on parents to secure a place for their children, especially in well-established schools," Minister Bhattarai shared. "Some believe that a recommendation will ensure their child's enrollment, but such calls should not happen."
Admissions for grade one are particularly competitive this year, with many well-known private, community, and trust schools facing overwhelming demand. Some schools, like Gyanodaya Secondary School, have resorted to using code numbers for entrance exams to handle the pressure. Even well-regarded community schools, once less competitive, are now struggling with high demand.
Herambaraj Kandel, Principal of Viswa Niketan Secondary School in Tripureshwor, explained, "We are seeing unprecedented pressure to admit students. Parents call us incessantly, asking us to include their child, but despite our best efforts, we cannot accommodate everyone."
The Ministry of Education convened a meeting with representatives from several major schools in the Kathmandu Valley to address the growing concerns. Principals from institutions like St. Mary's, St. Xavier's, Rato Bangla, Budhanilkantha School, and others gathered to discuss the admission process, fee management, scholarship distribution, and the social security of teachers and staff for the upcoming academic session.
Minister Bhattarai used the opportunity to reiterate her stance that admissions should remain impartial and not based on personal recommendations. "Admissions should be fair and transparent. Everyone should be treated equally," she emphasized during the meeting. "We cannot allow practices that give undue preference to individuals with connections."
Amrit Rai, Principal of St. Xavier's School, added, "There is a rumor that certain people, including the Minister and local officials, have a quota for student admissions. This is not true. We have no such quotas and do not admit students based on influence or personal relationships."
In line with last year's directive from the Ministry, schools are prohibited from admitting grade 1 students solely through entrance exams and are encouraged to explore alternative methods. As part of this initiative, St. Xavier's and St. Mary's have implemented a lottery system, which allocates 63% of seats to open categories and the remaining to reserved categories.
Further clarifying the Ministry's position, Minister Bhattarai stated, "There can be no quotas in the admission process. The law must be followed, and everything should be conducted openly and transparently. Neither the Prime Minister nor the Minister can influence admissions; every child should have an equal opportunity."
The Ministry also addressed concerns regarding scholarship offerings at private schools, where discounts are often given under the guise of scholarships. Minister Bhattarai called for compliance with the law, which mandates that schools provide scholarships to a certain percentage of students based on enrollment. She directed schools to ensure that admissions are conducted according to the academic calendar and to guarantee social security for teachers and staff working in private institutions.
This meeting marks a significant step towards addressing the challenges that both schools and parents face during the annual admission season, with a strong emphasis on fairness, transparency, and equal opportunities for all students.
