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Kathmandu Thursday May 17, 2001 Jestha 04, 2058.
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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.
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