Barsha Rai, a third grader at Mahendra Secondary School in Biratnagar, asked her neighbour Pankaj Mandal when her school will resume.

Mandal, a Bachelors level student, had no answer. Following a few minutes of silence, he replied that since college remained closed due to ongoing protests he decided to join coaching classes.

Students, however, want to continue their schooling. Scores of students, including Rai, have been unable to attend classes since the past few days due to the indefinite general strikes.

Dik Prasad Ghimire, economics teacher at Mahendra School, said that they could not resume classes for there were no students coming to school. “They are unable to come to school due to the terror of violence,” said Ghimire, adding that parents are also unable to send their children to schools in fear.

Despite ongoing bandas, some private schools have started coaching classes for Grade 10 in Morang district. Manish Pandit, a ninth grader of Biratnagar-11, said teachers began early morning tuition classes to finish the coursework in time.

But, demonstrators on Monday also forcefully shut the extra classes being run by schools demanding that the voices of Madhesi people be addressed. “We are taking extra classes since the past three days but protesters closed the classes,” said Aayush Rajbanshi, a ninth grader at Graded Secondary School.

“Demonstrators threatened our principal not to open school,” said Sagun Dahal, a ninth grader from Biratnagar.

“The future of our children is in dilemma,” said Ranjan Bhandari of Pushpalal Chok in Biratnagar, adding that indefinite protests have also wasted both time and money of everyone.

Owner of Balaji Book Store in Traffic Chok, Ajaya Byas, lamented that his business has come to a halt due to the ongoing bandas. Principal of Bal Kalyan Bidhya Mandir Higher Secondary School, Rabin Dahal hoped that leaders of major political parties and leaders of Madhesi, Janajati and Aadibasi organisations will play a supportive role to resume schools.