63% children in Parsa Primary schools

Birgunj, June 25 (RSS): About 15,000 children of Parsa district are being deprived of basic and primary education despite the implementation of the basic and primary education programme launched nine years ago with the objective of providing all the children primary education.

After the implementation of the basic and primary education programme in the fiscal year 2049-50, only 63 per cent of the children in Parsa district have been enrolled in the schools.

According to programme coordinator Baldev Prasad Shaha, only 61,000 of the total 76,000 children of school going age have been enrolled in the schools due to lack of awareness among the guardian, financial difficulties and other compulsions.

Twelve per cent of the children leave school due to economic, social and cultural compulsions without completing primary education while 20 per cent of the children repeat classes. Thirty-one per cent of the children failing in primary classes have been continuing classes in the district.

Arrangements have been made for primary school incharge in the secondary and lower secondary schools in order to make improvements in the management and primary education while 11 resource centres with one resource person each have been set up for inspection and supervision of the primary schools in the district, according to district education officer Yogendra Bahadur Basnet.

Under the basic and primary education programme, 185 two-room buildings, a 18-room office building, 59 toilets and 34 drinking water taps have been built and training programmes organised for the primary schools teachers for enhancement of education.

Basnet is of the opinion that the objective of the basic and primary education programme can be achieved if the children development centres, alternative education, special education programme, evaluation system, education management, information and other programmes are launched effectively in the district.

There are 27 secondary, 28 lower secondary and 196 primary schools in Parsa district which has one sub-metropolis and 82 villages development committees.

Gautam asks to extend local bodies’ tenure

Pokhara, June 25 (RSS): CPN-UML standing committee member Bamdev Gautam has stated that the tenure of the local bodies should be extended by one year in accordance with the law because the term of the local bodies has expired and the situation is not conducive to hold fresh elections under the prevailing situation.

At a meet the press programme organised by Press Chautari Nepal, Kaski district branch, here today, he said that two elections had already been held earlier even when the Maoist activities was going on and expressed the confidence that the parliamentary elections to be held in November 13 would be successful.

He made it clear the CPN-UML had no role in splitting the Nepali Congress nor would his party take to the street for the reinstatement of the dissolved Parliament.

NEWSROOM CHATTER

Topsy-turvy World

IN this topsy-turvy world, virtually all events or issues have their quota of supporters and critics. Here in Nepal too, one is sometimes forced to take sides on issues ranging from the dissolution of the House of Representatives to the tug-of-war between the Nepali Congress leaders

Similarly, almost every second person, also questions you about the state of emergency in the country. Persons like this scribe, are badgered more, since many people believe we know more because we are journalists.

However, one thing most people agree regarding the state of emergency that it has ensured the smooth running of schools here in Kathmandu. Political parties and their various organisations used to shut down schools and colleges at the drop of a hat and students and parents were forced to take things lying down even though they were disturbed about the frequent disruption in the educational process. Though most parents seem to be happy now, it is sure some others will show dissent to this sort of thinking as well. But that’s what makes a topsy turvy life, right? (LDT)

Brave Lot

IT BLOWS hot. It blows cold. But, nowhere there’s any sign of the cooler aspect. Boiling tempers. That’s what makes politics a game for the bold and the courageous. Make whatever meaning out of it. After all, being bold and courageous is not easy as has been amply demonstrated from the experience of the past twelve years. Come election time and the political leaders are out to distribute their specified doses of promises to the voters. Is that easy? Of course, not. There’s a catch, however. Once the ballots have made their verdict clear, there’s hardly anyone to question why the aspirations have not been fulfilled. Doesn’t that itself suggest that the political leaders are a gallant lot. Yes, they can face the public in the face as long as they can hold it. That’s the real stuff that they are made up of. What say you? (PNK)

Is Blue Jinxed?

Almost all the soccer teams dressed in all shades of blue were booted out by their rivals in the ongoing FIFA World Cup championships. So much so that fans got the impression that blue was the losers’ colour. However, when the Brazilian team, dressed in blue, sent the English players packing home in the second round, soccer fans heaved a sigh of relief.

But have the Brazilian booters really broken the jinx associated with the colour blue? This will only become clear after the Brazilian booters boot out the Turks—and go on to beat the winners of the Germany versus South Korea match. Till then, Brazil’s fans, keep your…yes, toes crossed! (GR)

Luck vs Hard Work

WITH the fall of the curtain to the 2002 World Cup, the fans here will surely search for alternative source of entertainment. Well, it would be a month for them sitting in front of the idiot box consuming everything visible on its screen.

On the other hand, many parents after coming out of their World Cup hangover would seriously knock the doors of the campuses to enroll their children to pursue higher studies. And, mind you, the SLC exam results were published in the midst of the World Cup extravaganza. This ink-pusher is still waiting to see what the newly established campuses will do if they fail to lure the students. Maybe, they might just pack up and disappear without any trace in the middle the year like some such campuses did in the past or will they wait patiently for years to try their luck. Not only the Nepalese colleges but also some of the big names at the World Cup are compelled wait for four years to try their lucks after they suffered loss with the underdogs before reaching to the semi finals. (ASR)

Yes, It’s Soccer

WITH the access to television, the popularity of the game of soccer seems to be on the rise. The antics of the soccer super stars add to the enjoyment of their fans. Every game creates a couple of new stars. When these stars fail to deliver, there are groans of disappointment. The soccer idols play under pressure, and when they perform up to exceptions, their avid fans are exhilerated.

By the conclusion of the present World Cup tournament, several players will be household names, and the world will hold their breath for their return after four years. After the World Cup is over, the winners may breathe a sign of relief, and their joy may know no bound. For the losers there is always the next time (BPM)

Patch Work

WE all are living in interesting times. while many would frown at this proposition, there are others who would approve it outright. The interesting story being narrated here is no other than about the worshipping of powerful officials. One of the highest-ranking officials had his son’s wedding recently in Baneswor. As soon as the people from the Road Department were seen grinning around the area, people thought that the pot holes in the streets passing by the big boss’s home would be patched up. Their delight did not last long because to their dismay they saw the next day that the road people had patched the pot holes leading up to the big boss’s home only, other parts of the street were neglected. This is how things work in Nepal. (AM)

True Colour

AS AN employee of a corporation that publishes the country’s oldest daily, this scribe became more than happy to see the daily going colour. After a century long wait and much procrastination by the corporation bosses in the past, the nation’s first broadsheet became the last till date to get its colour. Cynics are, however, saying that to publish a newspaper in colour is not enough, and the quality of the content should also be enhanced at the same time. They also say the true colour of a newspaper is seen through its contents. You may agree that the issue of content is a very controversial topic for a paper that is still associated with the government. What is more important is to publish the paper in colour to give it a new look so that it can compete with other newspapers. Then, is not it an instance of " better late than never" for the 100-plus year-old black-and-white Gorkhapatra to receive a fresh colour look? (NU)

Football holidays

OFFICE goers and students had two public holidays recently. But those who got them were not very happy. For anyone, public holidays are most welcome. But people had some grudges about these particular holidays. The reason was that both the holidays did not coincide with the World Cup football matches. They were furious in the sense that football events were not held on those days. This time around, World Cup matches are held during the daytime causing disappointments to employees and students. Moreover, when the matches cannot be enjoyed on weekends, they take it as a sad fate. During the early days of matches, students had a good time as their summer vacation did a favour for them. Now that the vacations are over and the most interesting part of the soccer show is round the corner, some may be ready to skip classes. It would be reasonable to give ‘football holidays’ than to run empty classes. (BT)

Can’t Understand

Construction traffic islands has been gaining ground in the capital city. Even some travel trade related associations are involved in such activities. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has taken the lead. Such islands can add greenery to the roads, to some extent, and help ease the people’s eyes. As yet another new project, KMC has begun developing similar type of island on one of the busiest junctions of the city— Shahid Gate. It may be recalled here that the city’s authority last year carried out a commendable job by widening the road in that very area. The widened road was a boon to vehicle drivers as well as pedestrians. But they will have to face the same problem with the materialisation of the project. Isn’t this move of KMC contradictory? (BMD)

Ban’em Also

IF anything flourished during the last twelve years of democracy in the country, they are obviously private boarding schools, manpower agencies, private nursing homes, finance companies, publication houses and film production units. Except for the last two, all the other organisations often make tall talks that they are there to serve the people and the nation. But the reality has always been the reverse. The boarding schools leave no stone unturned to exploit the parents and the teachers. The manpower agencies have been busy trafficking the poor and innocent Nepalese people to the Gulf countries and elsewhere. The finance companies are best tools for their owners to exploit the people and make money. And the mushrooming nursing homes charge fees beyond the capacity most of the patients. In sum, all these organisations have done more harm than service to the people. Yet the concerned authorities always turn their deaf ears to the public voices and have done nothing to check their illegal activities. However, lately the government reportedly has done a laudable job by banning the registration of new nursing homes. But it is inadequate. The government should also ban the opening of new private boarding schools, finance companies and manpower agencies, which fulfill only the petty interest of their owners. (BG)

Not Cash But Honour

YOU may not believe. But at times there appear certain things that leave you dumbfounded. While you receive a cheque for a few thousand rupees as a cash prize along with a certificate of appreciation from the hands of a minister or a prominent person amidst a function, you just cannot imagine that the cheque would bounce. But if it does, you can’t help it. A friend of yours truly faced the same fate. As advised when the poor friend of mine approached the award giving institution he was consoled, "Don’t worry. It’s not the cash but ‘honour’ that is important." (KPS)