Education, what next ?

Uncertainty still looms large over the education system plagued by full-blown ills, treatment for which is long overdue. There is nothing much to gloat about over the release of two members of the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU-Revolutionary). The duo were arrested from the venue of a meeting between government authorities and the parties concerned, only to be released after three days without any explanation. This seemingly generous gesture by the government could be deceptive as in the past. Any miscalculated move by the government now might shatter any flickering hopes for peace in the messy education sector. This week’s shutdowns, demonstrations and vandalism only served to unleash fear psychosis throughout Kathmandu Valley. In its first phase protest, the ANNFSU-R harassed and manhandled school authorities, not to mention the damage caused to property worth millions. As usual, in the aftermath of violence and intimidation, the public got a clear picture of just how weak, unprepared and ineffective our law enforcing agencies are. What is even more unacceptable is that the authorities under the umbrella of the democratically elected government could be swayed by the radicals that easily. Capitalizing on the government’s poor performance, volatile forces are intruding into many vital sectors. Determined to tear apart the status quo, rebels are waging a war in remote parts of the country. And sympathisers are on the rampage in the Valley under a campaign to correct the country’s defective education system. Recent events and developments raise an important question: If education is the latest casualty of the Maoists, what’s next in line?

No one can deny that our education system is afflicted with anomalies. A dual education system, discrimination and glaring disparity have sparked unrest in this sector. The ANNFSU-R’s campaign to bring about dramatic changes in education has solid support from numerous parents, students and teachers. Only they are unhappy that such a serious issue has been brought to the fore through destructive techniques. Since last year, the student wing of the underground Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) has been out to exert pressure to cut down the tuition fee at private schools by fifty percent, scrap Sanskrit from the curriculum and ban the singing of the national anthem, among other things. Though there were incidents of struggle between school managements and the revolutionary group in the past, the dispute has truly taken an unpleasant turn recently. As if sufficient damage has not been done to our economy through a series of bandhs, the radicals have now resorted to school shutdowns, hampering the studies of students and disruption of the smooth functioning of academic institutions. More bandhs are likely to follow, if the authorities fail to resolve the crisis amicably through dialogue. Surprisingly though, the government is finding it too difficult to hold talks. Failure to restore normalcy immediately may mean hundreds of thousands of students will remain away from schools and their studies for an indefinite period.

With tales of woe galore, parents, students and teachers are the silent sufferers of our defective education system. Caught between politicisation and profiteering, it is in chaos and confusion. Arbitrary and frequent fee hikes, unjustifiable charges under various heads, poor infrastructure, under-the-counter dealings, examination rackets, low pay and exploitation of teachers have prevailed for years. Except for those affluent and privileged, poor education in a pathetic environment may mean a bitter reality people have to live with. A dual education system: one for the rich and the other for the poor cannot and should not be tolerated. But expecting big reforms in a short time is ridiculous. This, however, does not leave room for government dilly-dallying. Before our education sector heads towards anarchy, the government should bring those responsible to book, and enforce rules and regulations which are now gathering dust in some corner at the Ministry of Education.

Political leaders and parliamentary democracy

By Dr Shreedhar Gautam

Winston Churchill was not merely stating a paradox when he remarked, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others." He was underlining on the basis of historical experience just how difficult it is to successfully work a democratic polity. Many of us may revile against the perversions of democracy since the restoration of multiparty democracy 11 years ago, but we must realize that this system is an improvement upon the Panchayat system.

We have managed to retain this system over the past 11 years despite persistent efforts by the followers of the erstwhile system to subvert the democratic experiment and bring back the old partyless rule. This is all the more significant in the light of what has happened in some of neighbouring countries where people’s rule is ushered in by military rulers. In many countries military rule has become the alternative to a democratic regime. Only in a few countries in our neighbourhood has the army kept scrupulously out of politics.

On the basis of our experience of the past 11 years and on a critical analysis of the present situation, some political parties are suggesting that there is need for a revision or reform of the constitution to make it more effective. There is no harm in raising the question of constitutional reform, but the other questions that have to be answered are: "What are the failures in the operation of the system which have surfaced in the last 11 years? Are these defects remediable within the basic framework of the present constitution, with necessary amendments? Do the defects noticed in the working of the system need a radical revision of the constitution?"

First of all, credit should be given to the good sense of our people who, by and large, have shown a capacity to preserve democracy, thereby baffling the professional politicians. But people will no longer be tolerant towards leaders who betray the trust reposed in them. The picture since the first general election, including the period of unstable coalition governments, should not be taken as an excuse to declare a final verdict on the democratic system itself. But we should not forget that if ways can be found to carry on with the parliamentary system, it is always better to do that than opt for the old partyless system.

It can be safely said that many of the defects noticed in the workings of the parliamentary system are remediable only through drastic revision of the constitution. It has also to be realized that if the moral fibre of the people is undermined by corruption and opportunism, then no change in the constitution can save the polity from crisis and breakdowns in future. No democracy can rise above the level of the national character. All political parties have to search their hearts and find out whether they have been faithful and sincere in honouring their professed commitments to the public interest.

Dishonest politicians cannot blame the constitution for their betrayal of the trust reposed in them. There should be a full and candid examination of all the lapses in the political arena that have been noticed in the last 11 years, and there must be genuine and earnest effort to remedy them. Internal reform in the workings of the political parties, especially at the grass root level, is one of the fundamental reforms needed. Unfortunately, what we have witnessed in recent years is a systematic erosion of the mass base of the major political parties, and the growth of schisms and pure adventurism in politics. The ruling congress party is in need of a leader of high moral stature to lift it again to its former status. Happily, there is a deep stirring among congressmen and new leaders are coming up with a promise of revitalizing the democratic experiment. In other political parties too, new faces are emerging holding the promise of energizing our democratic experiment.

The parliamentary system can be better preserved and strengthened if the political parties come to terms with the idea of a coalition government when no single party gains an absolute majority in elections. There should be no objection to such a government if people are not willing to entrust their destiny to any single party of the right or left. Moreover, an unchecked parliamentary majority can be abused in the interests of the ruling party, leading to widespread corruption in public life. Our political leaders have to reorient their political thinking and behaviour to the trend of coalition party politics with a view to facing any eventuality. Coalition governments can be helpful in strengthening the cultural pluralism of the country.

The experiment with coalition governments in Nepal after the fall of the Manmohan Adhikari government was not encouraging. But in future our political leaders should show more tolerance and understanding towards each other keeping in view the supreme interests of the country. In a parliamentary system, political parties can agree to a coalition set up before elections in order to secure an absolute majority that will assure the required stability. A coalition's advantage is that it combines ideological flexibility with stability of government within the institutional arrangements of a parliamentary democracy. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Surya Bahadur Thapa and finally Girija Prasad Koirala headed coalition governments in the past. But these lacked stability, as the experiments were not based on pre-poll agreements.

Given the political and social realities of the country, the coalition arrangement can become a necessity in the future. Its successful functioning depends on the sagacity of our political leaders who should create the necessary conditions for stability by exercising the political virtue of ideological flexibility as cooperative partners. They should show their capacity for political adjustment for the constructive purpose of establishing a stable coalition.

A stable political order is necessary for the successful functioning of a parliamentary system. Political leaders should rise to the occasion by abandoning self-indulgent complexes in the nation’s interests. It is in the hands of our political leaders to make this system function. If they fail to play their cards carefully, the present democratic experiment could meet a tragic end. The prime minister’s role in a parliamentary system is very vital. If he fails in his political conduct, the system fails. Mischief and immoral activity on the part of the political leaders, especially the Prime Minister, should not be condoned as political compulsion. The very aim of the democratic process is administrative and political stability. We can have such a democratic experience only when our political leaders are beyond the reach of bribery and corruption.

Ads for teaching shops

By Kabita Regmi

"Admission is open now! Please admit your ward at our school. The school of everything with all facilities. Please bring your children and also tell your relatives that there is a school of wonder. Just to let you know, if you can bring three other children, your child will be given free education", the principal of Lopophorus Public School assured. The next day I met another friend of mine who has recently "bought" a school named Sparrow Academy. She put forward her proposal that I should send my daughter, so she will be taught to frolic like a sparrow. Then the same day evening I met one of my ex-teachers, who had opened a new school named Eagle’s Eye Grammatical Boarding School in an association with Owl’s Wisdom English Medium School. As I returned my home, I received a brochure of Cuckoo’s Nest Kindergarten. Some other brochures I received in my box were the abbreviated schools such as CPU school, FBI school, ICU school and MXZ school.

A school on the way to my home had entrance with a colourful banner that read: "Admissions is opened for now to nursery to nine" and it further read "we have proud of hundred percent SLC results, and we teach, in fluently; the English with the love and the affection for your children". I could not really decipher the second sentence for a while as it said "fluently; the English with the love and the affection".

It interested me to see the different advertisements of admissions open. Each school vows its "salient features" and they are all the same: karate, transportation, big classrooms, boarding-cum day-boarding, swimming, horse-riding and so on. I selected one of those and went to see them. Probably my selection was wrong, all of those visited schools were running classes in cow-sheds with no windows and doors. A teacher teaching on this side was audible to the next room. Kitchen was filthy, the only one school had a ditch like swimming pool and others had the programme only. There were not several of the facilities mentioned in the newspapers. Nevertheless, the fees were just too high. Situation turned out to be a sheer frustration.

Well! My next move was to a few popular schools. I was lost there. But I spent considerable time to see them. I felt really sorry for the students in those schools. The small kids were not given any attention at all. The self-motivated students were getting something out of their institution and those with unexpressive and shy behaviour were at the end of classroom in a dark corner. The middle school kids just ran here and there, and some high school kids were busy smoking openly on roadways, while other were hiding themselves in nearby little cafes to smoke and even drink. To my utter sadness, many kids in those schools did have really bad discipline that included threatening as well as beating up teachers and fierce gang fighting. Additionally, I once again turned romantic while I saw a few students openly necking in the school uniform right next to the school’s gate! Heaven save them!

Once I saw an advertisement of a school that mentioned its features based on its philosophy, which I liked so much. The school that sounded like run by educationists so I took an appointment and visited it. As I entered into the school, my feeling was quite different from that of all other schools. It was small, well-cared and peaceful. Fees were moderate and it was reasonable. I was glad that there are some schools in the vicinity of Kathmandu, which have got the gut of education. I decided my child to send to that school. Parents, go search out there, you may end up like mine, but please do not simply hear and run!

Public Service Commission and good governance

By Dr Niranjan Prasad Upadhyay

The need for a public service commission was felt immediately after the ushering in of a democratic form of government on February 18, 1951. A public service commission was set up for the first time in Nepal’s history in July 1951.

Designated the Nepal Public Service Commission, it was entrusted with the task of conducting examinations for recruitment to government posts. The Public Service Commission is a constitutionally emtowered independent body for ensuring the equality of rights guaranteed under the Nepalese constitution. Candidates for vacancies in the civil service must be Nepalese citizens. The Public Service Commission of Nepal always tries to supply responsible, effective and efficient with candidates strategic vision for the enhancement of administrative management. Good governance runs swiftly on the basis of sound and effective personnel selection. Recruitment and selection are the
key functions of the Public Service Commission.

The Institute For Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester recently published an article titled The New Public Selection? Competing approaches to the development of the Public Service commission of Nepal. In this article Willy McCourt has stated that the recruitment of public servants in Nepal represents a metaphorical confluence of three streams of enquiry in modern public management, one with its own modest pretension to auspiciousness. The first stream, a somewhat venerable one, asserts the value of merit-based selection as a bulwark against corruption in the
public sector. The second stream, almost equally venerable, asserts the value of psychometric approaches to recruitment in promoting organisational efficiency through improving the quality of appointments. Its source is the rise of the bureaucratic model of organisation in the early twentieth century (Jacoby, 1985). The third stream, of more recent origin, is what has come to be labelled the "New Public Management" (NPM) (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994). Psychometric methods of staff selection have been developing since the early part of this century. Landy (1989) has stressed the importance of psychometric methods on the bases of three principles ie job analysis, predictor identification and measurement of success.

In the course of human resource mobilisation the Public Service Commission, the National Planning Commission and The Ministry of General Administration have played a vital and influencing role. It is said that human resource development’s an integral pact of the administrative machinery for achieving the objectives and goals of governance and ensuring the all round development and growth of the country. The calibre and quality of manpower makes difference between a good and bad government.
In this context, the Public Service Commission has launched a new and effective curriculum for elementary examination in the open competition for Gazetted third class, Section officer (non technical) level.

The present curriculum is designed on the basis of extensive and rigorous exercise, mass communications central and regional workshop meetings and opinion surveys interactions with intellectual group and higher-level government officers and students. Basically, those personalities have stressed various types of defects in the previous curriculum ie lack of academic subjects, no basic difference between general knowledge and social studies papers, lack of screening tests, absence of women’s representation etc.

The Public Service Commission follows the merit principle. The merit system has been considered the basis of managing the system of modern government in operation. It covers diversified characteristics ie adequate publicity, opportunity to apply, realistic standards, absence of discrimination, ranking on
the bases of ability and knowledge of results.

Personnel activities starting from recruitment to all personnel functions that are essential for the best use of human potential will result in organizational effectiveness. Organisational effectiveness promotes good governance and the competence of personnel. The Public Service Commission possesses diversified functions viz recruitment, promotion, departmental actions and revision and verifications of testing items and curriculum design. It provides efficient personnel to the ministries, department, and commission, for the sake of good governance and for handling development-oriented work for the welfare of the general public. In the course of effective resource management, sound and applied types of training must be imparted to the newly selected officers. Effective training course design and sharing practical up-to-date and applied knowledge among the newly selected officers are key factors in good - governance.

His Majesty’s Government has for the first time pledged through a policy pronouncement in the Ninth Plan (1997-2002) to provide good governance to its citizens. A separate heading in the play is devoted to good governance and management. One of the things pledged in this regard is providing for the public good from the state through the establishment of an administration that is effective, efficient, responsive and accountable to Nepalese citizens (Ninth Plan 1998:685). The Ninth Plan (1998) has also focused on raising the capability of the Public Service Commission in the course of the selection process.

In the course of the present curriculum design, The Public Service Commission introduced open competitive elementary examination curriculum for gazetted Third Class, Section Officers (non technical) on April 27, 2001. The curriculum offers 4 hours examination time, 200 total marks, eight units and subjective and objective types, of questions, and it carries 160 and 40 marks respectively. The design of the present curriculum there is possesses various outstanding disciplines ie Geography, History and Culture, the Nepalese political System, Administrative System and International agencies, the Nepalese Social System, Languages, Literature and Arts, Science and Technology, the Nepalese economic aspect, current affairs and national/international personalities and their ideals.

On the whole, curriculum design is one of the basic factors of good governance. The Public Service Commission always helps and supports the government on the basis of supplying effective and able candidates for the course and for performing efficient services to the general public. Basically, good governance always relates to various aspects ie rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, equity, effectiveness and efficiency, participation, strategic vision and accountability.