Schools told not to conduct entrance test for Grade 1 admissions

KATHMANDU: The Center for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD) has instructed schools not to conduct entrance examinations for the admission of students in Grade 1.

The CEHRD has instructed all local units and education development and coordination units to monitor and prevent schools from conducting entrance examinations for Grade 1 and running preparatory classes.

In a statement, the CEHRD said that Montessori and pre-school classes conducted as per the concept of the Child Development Center have been found focusing on memorization instead of focusing on the overall development of children. Stating that the period of up to eight years is the time for early child development, it has asked schools to involve children of this age group in activities that promote overall development.

The CEHRD has told schools to conduct only the activities needed for the overall development of children in the pre-primary classes of Montessori and institutional schools.

Stating that activities like making children memorize and mug up for months in the name of preparatory classes for the entrance examination have been seen, which harms the creativity and inherent talent of children, the CEHRD has told schools to conduct only the activities needed for the overall development of children in the pre-primary classes of Montessori and institutional schools.