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| Kathmandu, Wednesday March 05, 2003 Falgun 21, 2059. |
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No money, no teachers
The news story titled "Teachers go without
salary for 18 months" (dated March 1, 2003, TKP) is shocking. The Maoists have closed
down schools in remote areas. Teachers are working in Khotang district without salary
since the government directed the education budget to defence.
That the ruling class has given no due attention
to education since 1950 is a known fact. The present government is no better on this
count. After the restoration of multi-party democracy, liberalisation in the education
sector picked up momentum. Many private schools were opened. This stopped capital flight,
to some extent. People who had money stopped sending their wards abroad for schooling. But
those coming from poor homes are no better. Most of them are deprived of education. The
few who get enrolled in public schools could not compete with their counterparts at
private schools.
There are many ills plaguing this sector. Lack
of funds and improper utilisation of the scarce-resources are the major constraints. How
can teachers work in government-run schools without getting salary? Who should be
responsible for the education of children? Is it the government or the people? If the
government can’t afford to pay salary, it must hand over the government schools to
the community.
Ram Prasad Sharma
Kathmandu |
