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Kathmandu Saturday June 23, 2001 Ashadh 09, 2058.
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Protect private schools
The education system in the country has taken an
"about turn" since the Maoists launched their People’s War against the
democratic establishment some five years ago. This is in no way a good sign for the
development of the country. Certainly, it is too extreme a step to be tolerable in any
society. What the country needs at this juncture is a better education system to meet the
growing demand. The 15-point demand made by the Maoist student wing — All Nepal
National Free Students Union (ANNFSU-R) — must be taken seriously, if the government
intends to provide a technically sound and essentially better education system. ANNFSU-R
has already began closing down private schools, besides demanding a reduction of tuition
fees at the private schools. As a result, PABSON has submitted its recommendation which
consists of a host of suggestions to a high level committee. But such a recommendation
immediately raises a few questions. Does ANNFSU-R have the right to regulate private
schools, or even to close them down? Do private schools need to submit any recommendation
on the reduction of tuition fees? Why does the government issue permission to open private
schools? So far has the government taken any action against any group of rowdies who have
closed down the private schools? Why is the liberty to run and manage private schools in
jeopardy?
PABSON submitted a fifteen page recommendation
to the high level committee, a five member committee formed by the government with a view
to reforming the education sector. Had ANNFSU-R not undertaken any radical approach to
reduce tuition fees, or not closed down private schools in the Maoist-hit districts,
perhaps PABSON would neither have felt necessary to prepare a survey report, nor would the
government have agreed to reform this sector. PABSON has divided the private schools into
three categories - private trust, public trust and service oriented. This survey, as
agreed with ANNFSU-R and the government, should have been done within 35 days.
Unfortunately, PABSON took longer than the required time to submit its report to the high
level committee. Educational experts now claim that the recommendation is not very
different from that of the Khania report, a survey conducted three years ago with the aim
of reforming private schools.
It is sad but true that the education system in
the country has been in a chaotic state. Yet, the Koirala government has done nothing to
improve it. Neither has it given any protection to private schools nor been able to take
action against Maoist students. As a result, private schools in rural areas are being
closed, affecting the education of a large chunk of students. Parents are pleading with
the government to provide security. But the Koirala government seems to be too weak not
only to implement its education policies but also to protect the private schools. In
fairness it should be added that past governments too have been better at political
interference in the running of public sector schools and not doing anything about rampant
commercialisation in private schools. That is what brought about the crisis in the first
place.
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