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Kathmandu,Wednesday February 16, 2000 Fagun 04, 2056.
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Unite and be professional
It is indeed good news that two prominent associations of Nepalese teachers
have finally realised the need to fight together against the anomalies in the
country’s education system. Education no doubt suffers many problems today. These
problems range from issues relating to teachers’ professional welfare to a host of
management and academic aspects. Clearly, teachers are the pillars of the education
sector. As such, any problem facing this sector will naturally call for their humble
initiative to solve them. The resolution of Nepal Teachers Association (NTA) and Nepal
National Teachers Association (NNTA) to ‘fight together’ against anomalies in
this sector therefore, deserves praise.
Of course, teachers cannot establish their professional rights through
isolated groups. They must fight jointly. But what is intriguingly obvious now is that
teachers are less serious about academic issues than they are about their
‘rights’. Plainly speaking, the education sector today is mired in massive
politicization. The fact that these associations are affiliated to the two major political
outfits — the ruling Nepali Congress and the opposition Communist forces,
respectively — indicate that teachers’ bodies are more concerned about the
education sector’s political growth than academic progress. If teachers are really
serious about the quality of education and the need for concerted efforts, they must first
realise that the very existence of two or more organisations is a hindrance to this cause.
This only shows that teachers lack faith in each other, and are divided ideologically.
If anything, the resolution of NTA and NNTA makes clear the need for unity
among teachers. NNTA vice-president’s statement that political alignment of
associations "has not actually been able to render us with the kind of facilities
that a teacher should enjoy" also brings out this reality most poignantly. It is high
time teachers stood united in their cause and fought for their professional rights and
dignity. Nonetheless, for the moment, the two associations’ decision to form a joint
committee to "explore the problems and find ways for their solution" is
laudable. Even more laudable is their plan to frame and introduce a Teachers’ Code of
Conduct which can be expected to improve teachers’ professionalism.
While the need for unity has been perceived well by both associations, what
seems to be stirring their mind is whether to go for a merger or flock together under a
federation. If teachers really think that they have a professional cause to pursue, then
they must not allow their political ideology to reflect on their professional career.
For, only a purely academic approach can solve the academic and professional
problems of teachers, and teachers must work towards this end.
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