Children’s status

Apantheon of political leaders, corporate leaders and youngsters from South Asia have stressed investment in children as a top priority on a mission to alleviate poverty. At a time when the country’s education sector is passing through testing times, the recently concluded two-day South Asia High Level Meeting’s prescriptions for enhancing the quality of life for children and preserving their rights could not have come at a more opportune time. Despite organising numerous conferences, the living standard of children has deteriorated in the last decade or so. It is surprising that a big and extravagant occasion has to be organised in the capital to drive home the gnawing problem of low status of children. What is even more surprising is that the authorities concerned either fail to implement the policies recommended by a host of seminars and conferences, or are totally indifferent to the suggestions offered. Given defective policy and poor implementation mechanisms, conferences have become farcical. What’s the use of such conferences if their recommendations cannot figure in policy papers? Due to this, the public are getting increasingly disenchanted with meetings and elaborate seminars held in posh hotels.

Child mortality in Nepal is the highest in the region. Illiteracy too is high. Child labour is reaching alarming proportions. This is the reality the people of one of the poorest of poor countries have to live with. Without nourishing food and clean drinking water, without access to education and health care services, millions of Nepali children are living in pathetic conditions. Such deprivations and grievances are more pronounced in the rural areas. Are these children doomed to such a fate for ever? Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? Every year, when the budget is unveiled, it disappoints the education and health sectors the most. Last year too, the picture was the same. Though the government allocated a huge proportion of the budget supposedly to step up security measures and contain the Maoist insurgency, the two crucial sectors, as usual, failed to attract attention. With poor investment in health and education, it is ridiculous to talk of socio-economic development. With poverty alleviation as its one and the only goal, the Ninth Plan has embarked on an ambitious mission to bring about dramatic socio-economic change in a short time. But with unbalanced budget allocation, and lack of proper coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the National Planing Commission, it will be little wonder the Plan turns out to be a disaster.

When it comes to signing accords on the rights of children, our political leaders and social activists are all too pleased to fulfil the international obligations. Back at home, poor and needy children are yet to feel the effect and essence of those signed agreements. Even as the government and political analysts preach relentlessly about good governance, the pillars of the nation continue to sink deeper into pitch dark. Good governance is not just a salable slogan to generate donations from abroad. Instead it is a responsibility of the democratically elected government, and undoubtedly includes the rights of children to live a decent and secure life. Which means the government has to be more rational and generous while setting aside funds to invest in human resource development.

Regulated education sector is bad

By Alok K Bohara

There is no denying that one major accomplishment of the new democratic Nepal is in the education sector. There are now more universities, a score of private engineering, medical, business, and arts colleges, numerous vocational institutes, and an astonishing number of private schools (about 8000). Empowering people with human capital is the most important thing a country can do for its population, and we should all be very proud of it. Most importantly, it was accomplished by many private Nepali citizens through their vision, hard work, and entrepreneurial spirit. We must also acknowledge that this sector employs a large number of Nepali women, giving them an opportunity for being financially independent.

Does that mean we should not raise any legitimate concern? Of course, not. As a concerned citizen, we should raise our voice about quality, cost, access and curriculum. But we should do it in a non-political manner through constructive debates without any violence. I firmly believe that the (private) education sector’s rise is the best thing that has happened to this country, and we should preserve and nurture it, not destroy. Some soul searching may be warranted in light of the recent events involving private schools.

Let me take the issue of high cost of education. The high price of education implies two things. The first is that the parents put high value on education, and thus they are willing to pay for it. The second implication is that the demand is ahead of supply.

The land market in Kathmandu valley is the perfect example of this phenomenon. For a long time until recently, many households considered land (and house) as the most important asset, and they gave it a highest priority for investment. With a limited amount of land supply and a high demand for it, the price hovered at a high level. Over time, new alternate investment opportunities began to emerge, especially in Kathmandu, and the demand for land began to drop bringing down the price along with it. This is the supply and demand mechanism.

In education sector too, families are making choices valuing education ahead of other activities, and are not hesitating to pay for it. Many upper class families are also diverting their resources away from India and other countries. It has been putting pressure on demand, and consequently exerting an upward pressure on price as well. It is also fair to assume that they are getting their money’s worth perhaps, else we would be seeing a record closure of bad schools.

Nonetheless, we should be concerned about the high cost of education. It is not an easy task. The proposed government’s regulatory approach (eg, forced reduction in tuition) will bring about more ills to this sector, not to mention a market distortion that may ensue. A regulated education market (price ceiling ie, forcing school to charge less than the market price) will force schools to get around the problem through various measures. The schools are likely to employ cheaper and less qualified teachers and will respond by cutting back on services (eg, books, supplies, lunch, social functions, debates, sports, arts, exhibitions, field trips, music, high-speed computer and Internet access, new technology, science lab experiments). Alternatively, these costs are likely to be passed on to the parents. To get around the problem of the fixed tuition, parents and school administrators may also resort to under-the-table exchanges.

A regulated market will also discourage entries of new schools, which will perpetuate a supply shortage. A high demand and short supply will continue to put an upward pressure on prices. Not able to charge a market price, the suppliers will give a sub-quality education and the nation will again see a flight of its capital to other countries.

Similarly, the government should also stay out of setting the salary scale for the private sector industry. The education sector has to compete with other sectors for resources (eg, teachers and administrators), and they cannot afford to pay excellent and mediocre teachers the same pay, especially if they want to retain the former. On curriculum, schools should be given a broad guideline to teach our values and heritage and should be encouraged to keep a balanced exposure as far as the other countries are concerned.

I know of many parents who seem to be very happy with the quality of education their children have received, but at the same time they also acknowledge the existence of some schools that are more motivated by style rather than substance. Consequently, some schools have suffered.

As the private sector matures though, we should see more parental involvement in our school system which will begin to put pressure on schools to be more accountable especially in matters related to finances, tuition, and quality. School boards consisting of private citizens should play more active roles in various planning activities of the schools.

Concerned parents, professionals, and educators should form an independent non-profit organization to monitor these private schools and their performances. They should annually publish their records on passing rates, dropout rates, college attendance rates, student/teacher ratio, tuition information and rank the school accordingly on various criteria. These constructive approaches and decisions should, however, rest on the shoulder of the parents and the teachers of the private schools, not the government.

On the anthem issue, a spirit of national unity under a single flag is hardly harmful. As far as the issue of the public school is concerned, it does need a careful attention, including accountability and new investment. It is easier said than done, but you cannot improve the performance and status of a public sector entity by destroying its private sector competitor. The government should do everything in its power to provide affordable publicly supported quality education for its masses, but it should not meddle in the affairs of a private sector.

The current political vacuum and the lack of stability and strength in the government have proved to be very damaging for the country, and the private education sector has just become its latest victim. Granted that some concerns are valid and must be addressed, but, like everything else, once the political flare overtakes the movement, the education sector will suffer an irreparable damage.

Reply of an instructor

By Laxmi Sharma

Students of higher level have been remiss in their duties and studies. Assiduous, admiring, respectful, unpretentious qualities have gone miles and miles away from them. Their lines of work are to affront teachers, to be insistent with parents and vainglorious with friends. What do they expect? To be spoon-fed at the MA level. They do not want to work hard and, then, they accuse teachers of not being efficient. What justice! Are teachers supposed to hand over a bottle of mixture to them, which they are supposed to drink and think that each and every thing will now come to them without opening a book? At this level when a teacher opens his/her mouth to utter a word, they should be grasping the whole sentence. Definitely teachers are not responsible for making them muzzy. Who has given them the authority to give them the hint to quit their life long planned profession? Nothing wrong if someone is to be in need. "They are indigent"- that you people consider as a drawback? What a way of categorization!

One thing which I have failed to understand is why the students of today have the "know it all" attitude. After all it was a teacher who cemented their basic foundation. I can bet that no student has reached a high level without the constant guidance of some teachers, unmindful
of the categories, which have been made.

Is visiting a library a half-baked idea or searching for books a half-witted person’s task? Gone are the days when students used to consider their teachers as Gods who enlightened them, instilled moral values and gave moral support. Those students who have had better opportunities, instead of categorizing their teachers and weighing their demerits should act as post -graduate students, keep their thoughts at a higher plane, make some contributions themselves, give some thought to the conditions in which the teachers work and be thankful towards those teachers whose hard work has given them the opportunity to attend MA classes without obstructing their full time and part time jobs.

Should private schools be closed down ?

The Kathmandu Post and Mercantile Communications conducted a survey on " Should private schools close down due to threats by the Maoist-affiliated students’ union?" The survey was done on the Net last week. Of the total 1239 respondents, 62. 8 percent (778) said "No", 34.7 percent (430) said "Yes" and 2.5 percent (30) said "Don’t know".

We regret the inconvenience, if any, due to original names being held back by some respondents.

The Maoists, if they come as a political group they will not harm the children. But closing private schools means Maoists are waging civil war which does not have any end. They do not know our geopolitical situation. Maoist leaders like Dr Baburam Bhattarai should think of the consequences very carefully. It is an intellectual exercise now. Tomorrow it may turn into an exercise of radicals who cannot differentiate between right and wrong. Maoists should not think of closing educational institutes, leave aside regular bandhs. Because every one is turning against the Maoists when their students’ wing began calling bandhs.

- Paiju Chhetri

Education institutions are very sensitive organs in our society which play a vital role for the future of any country. By the frequent closure of schools, there will be a negative impact on those who call for frequent closures. It is natural when some provide better quality, the governing body has the right to decide on the fees. A stupid students’ wing that hardly knows what education is all about should not try to pollute the highly respected institutions. If there are some netas behind this agitation, they will not live long. Do they know the cost of education in the US and UK? Compared to these countries, Nepali education is still inexpensive and any parent can afford any private school, I believe. But schools also should consider and accommodate even those poor students who cannot afford monthly tuition fees. There should be funds set up in every school for the poor and needy, not reduction of fees and closure of private schools. These all ideas are nonsense.

- G Sharma

Today, if you look sincerely at private educational institutions, they are asking so much money that a normal Nepali boy/girl cannot afford to study there. These are places only for rich people and their children, not for poor Nepalis. However, no matter whether you are rich or poor, you are Nepali so, if you have money you can go to these schools, because they provide you quality education. Quality will certainly help us. Quality education is beneficial for this country. But the government should impose high tax on private institutions and even high tax on rich people who send their children to these private schools. Public educational institutions are becoming less and less competent compared to private schools. What we need today is to privatize public institutions, universities and schools. Privatization is good only when it brings stiff competition and benefits the majority, but not in the way to make a few people richer and the vast majority poorer. So there is no question of closing private schools. And Maoists should not try to touch private schools. Otherwise, they will burn their fingers.

- S Dhakal

The demand for closure of private schools is irrational. Closing them down would be like throwing the baby out with the bath water. We will lose precious educational opportunities. Obviously, the children of middle class people will go to schools in India like they used to do before we saw growth of private school here. Nepal has done outstanding progress in education. Look at the number of medical colleges in Nepal now. Very few children need to go to India for higher studies and professional degrees. In no way the tuition free government schools will meet the quality of education given by these private schools. Choice of education and choice of schools is a liberty enjoyed in a liberal democratic country only. This is also a sign of and necessity for progress. Maoists have displayed anarchism by closing down even charity-run schools. Do we bow to anarchism? Do we let our children suffer in their educational opportunities. If the Maoists persist in attacking schools regardless, then it is time the liberal people united to take them on. The army, police and citizen vigilantes should protect the schools, which are vulnerable. If they can close down the private schools now, next they will start on private hospitals, transport and all private business. What becomes the targets next will be most likely private property and personal liberty.

- An observer

Why should the private schools be closed by the threat of some rascals? These Maoists, do they think that they are doing something impressive by threatening to close down schools. They want all the people to be illiterate so that they can rule them easily. The students’ wing members who have been repeating college for more than a decade, what the hell do they know about the importance of education.

- Shano Basnet

As far as the issue of closing down private schools is concerned, I would view it totally tyrannical. The Maoists have no right to demolish private schools, personal property and so on. What on the earth do the Maoists want? Do they want to be the one and only ruler of Nepal? This type of system cannot exist neither can we allow them to exist it. But the main blame should go to the government as well. Is the government the puppet in the hand of Maoists or the centre of power? The government should no longer think that it is still a joke because the Maoists have already interfered in education sector. ‘A monkey never builds its own house neither can tolerate others’ house’ . It is the same with the Maoist students. They neither study themselves nor let any one study. They are ruining the future of millions of our students.

- Rajucha

If we think the private schools are so high priced, why do so many Nepali parents send their children to private schools instead of public schools? The answer is clear, students get a better education in private schools, because you get what you pay for. Now you are trying to deny education for all whether in private or public. This is ludicrous. If you want to improve education, why don’t you improve public educational institutions. Nepali children are being "dumped down".
How can Nepal ever advance in the world with people uneducated at a universal standard?

- Nar Bahadur Bista

Parents should unite now, and take revenge on those notorious public colleges that are working as breeding places for vandalism in the capital. Top one first to be closed is the ASCOL Hostel. It has become the most notorious breeding ground where rascals learn how to vandalise private educational institutions. We definitely need no public colleges where children hardly learn any lesson, other than vandalism.

- Chiyapa Limbu