After China offers to pay salaries of teachers who can teach Mandarin in Nepal schools, many institutions have made the language mandatory, reported the Himalayan Times.
According to the report, Principals and staff of at least 10 renowned private schools said that Mandarin was a compulsory subject in their institutions. These schools are: Apex Life, Matribhumi, Rajarshi Gurukul, Shuvatara, Rato Bangala, Learning Realm International, Malpi City, Pathshala Nepal (both in Bagdol and Baneshwor) and United.
Many more private schools in Pokhara, Dhulikhel and other parts of the country have also made Mandarin compulsory for students.
“Schools are allowed to teach foreign languages, but they cannot make those subjects mandatory for students,” said Ganesh Prasad Bhattarai, information officer at the Curriculum Development Centre, a government body which designs school-level academic curriculum. “If a subject has to be made compulsory, it is us who take the decisions, not the schools.”
According to the report Schools knew about the provision but they have overlooked it, as they are getting Mandarin teachers for free.
“We introduced Mandarin as a compulsory subject two years ago after the Chinese Embassy agreed to provide teachers free of cost,” said Kuldip Neupane, principal at United School.
