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Kathmandu Thursday May 10, 2001 Baishakh 27, 2058.
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Restore normalcy
Violence has intruded again into education
institutions, and this time with a more sinister face. Private school associations are
living a veritable nightmare. As things stand now, a fear psychosis is likely to grip this
sector for an indefinite period, if the government fails to see off the threat from the
Maoists promptly. What has happened at two private schools in Kathmandu Valley on Monday
and Tuesday is not only highly regrettable, but also a clear manifestation of gross
negligence by the law enforcing agencies. Scores of armed members of the All Nepal
National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU-Revolutionary) raided the two private schools,
vandalized property worth millions and manhandled the school authorities. These
unfortunate incidents that occurred in broad daylight could have been averted, had the
government been able to fend off rationally the ANNFSU’s barrage of warnings and
threats. Such raids do not take place with prior notice. It is undoubtedly the duty of the
government to maintain law and order around-the-clock.
On a mission to bring the country’s
defective education system onto the right track, the student wing of the underground
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has been launching a series of protests across the
country since last year. Recently, the campaign for an affordable and better education
system has taken an ugly turn, with more incidents of vandalism and violence. The loss of
time, energy and resources caused by frequent shutdowns has been acknowledged by the
political bosses time and again. Unrest on academic premises has taken its toll on the
country’s scarce capital as well. Due to looming uncertainty, parents have started
sending their children off to neighbouring countries, thereby increasing the capital
flight. But virtually nothing has been done to quell the ongoing dispute between the
ANNFSU and private schools. Hopes for a dialogue are still as elusive as ever. Judging by
past experiences, efforts at amicable negotiations will come belatedly, only after the
situation spins out of control. Though the issues raised by the ANNFSU are relevant, the
techniques it has adopted to stamp out the existing anomalies in a new breed of private
schools are indeed deplorable. And if the government’s lackadaisical attitude
continues, chances are that this campaign could cause more havoc at academic institutions.
Politicisation and profiteering reign in our
education institutions- be they at school or college level. With the onset of
privatisation, the education system has become highly commercialized, widening the chasm
between public and private schools. Rather shamelessly, some schools are charging
exorbitant fees, perhaps the highest in South Asia, which is justified neither by the
facilities they offer nor by the income of the parents. Meanwhile, teachers are grossly
underpaid and exploited. But why are such schools being allowed to mint money
unscrupulously in the name of social service? Obviously, this is due to weak rules and
regulations. Given such a pathetic situation, it is all but natural for sufferers to reach
breaking point. But this does not by any means call for violence. Some quarters in the
ruling Nepali Congress have indicated that certain demands of the organisation can be
fulfilled. Unfortunately though, such assurances have been confined to words only. Around
one million students of eight thousand private schools and their guardians are pleading
with the government to end the niggling uncertainty and restore normalcy immediately.
Certainly, this should not be such a big deal for the democratically elected government.
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