Sanskrit, opposed by Maoists, taken off Nepal schools

[Jagat 1]

<h3>Sanskrit, opposed by Maoists, taken off Nepal schools</h3>

KATHMANDU, DEC 7 (AP)

 

Nepal has ordered its schools to drop compulsory Sanskrit lessons, but denies it's caved into demands by Maoist rebels who say the language is foreign to the Himalayan kingdom.

 

Sanskrit dates back thousands of years across South Asia, but is rarely used in Nepal where the official language is Nepali.

 

The abolition of Sanskrit lessons is a key among a list of education reforms demanded by the rebels who have called on students to boycott classes across Nepal indefinitely from Monday.

 

The Himalayan Times newspaper today quoted Education Minister Devi Ojha as saying the decision was not made to comply with the rebels, who have fought a bloody guerrilla war since 1996 to topple Nepal's monarchy.

 

He said Sanskrit had not been taught at the infant school level and would now no longer be compulsory for primary students either.

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