A sweeping decision to shut entrance and bridge courses quickly turned controversial after conflicting statements from the government. Critics say the sudden clarification has left students confused about what is actually banned.
Nepal's PM Balen with Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel
A sudden government move meant to “end coaching culture” has instead triggered a fresh political drama in Nepal. Within hours, praise turned into confusion, and confusion turned into accusations. The spotlight is now firmly on Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel, whose back-to-back statements have left students, parents, and educators wondering: what exactly has been banned?
On Sunday, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology released a press statement announcing that entrance preparation classes and bridge courses would be shut down. The decision applied to programs run before admissions at school level as well as higher education.
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The statement, issued by ministry spokesperson and joint secretary Shiva Kumar Sapkota, said the ban would come into effect soon. According to the ministry, institutions running entrance preparation classes and bridge courses in the name of admission preparation would no longer be allowed to operate.
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The announcement spread quickly across media and social media. Many welcomed it as a bold step to reduce pressure on students and financial burden on parents.
The ministry argued that such classes were affecting students negatively. According to the statement, institutions were conducting entrance preparation and bridge courses before admission processes began, which was creating psychological stress.
Officials also said these courses were harming equitable access to education. Students from wealthier backgrounds could afford extra coaching, while others struggled to keep up. The ministry also pointed out that these programs were adding unnecessary financial burden.
District Administration Offices were even requested to monitor such classes and take legal action if they continued.
Just when the decision seemed clear, Minister Sasmit Pokharel issued another urgent notice on Sunday evening. In this second statement, he clarified that the ban would apply only to classes up to Grade 12.
This meant entrance preparation and bridge courses for higher education might still continue, but nobody knows.
The sudden clarification triggered criticism. Many pointed out the contradiction between the ministry’s initial press release and the minister’s later explanation.
Criticism poured in online. Critics wrote that the education minister changed the decision within two hours after facing pressure.
Soon after the minister’s clarification, the ministry removed the earlier press statement from its website, which further fueled speculation.
Despite the confusion, ministry officials insisted that the original intent was to ban entrance and bridge courses from school level to higher education. They admitted there might have been differences in interpretation and said corrections would be made if necessary.
Spokesperson Shiva Kumar Sapkota said the ministry would hold discussions and release an official position on Monday.
Entrance preparation and bridge courses are widely common. After SEE exams, students often take such classes before joining Grade 11 in science, management, A-Level, and other streams. After Grade 12, similar preparation classes are common for medical, engineering, science, and technology admissions.
These courses are also used by students planning to study abroad, where preparation classes help them clear entrance tests and meet admission requirements.
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