Peace Code

MINISTER for Physical Planning and Works Narayan Singh Pun, who is also the government's coordinator for the peace talks with Maoists, has informed that a code of conduct for peace talks would soon be finalised and made public. Addressing a function organised by Nepal Tamu Students' Association in Butwal the other day, Minister Pun said that both the government and Maoists are doing homework to give a final shape to the code of conduct in order to take the peace process to a logical end and permanently end violence and terror in the country. It is, in deed, very essential to end the violence and restore peace and security in the country. Ever since the present government came to power, it has accorded a high priority to the peaceful solution of the Maoist problem through negotiation. As a result of the sincere and serious efforts of the government, the peace process has started and ceasefire between the government and the Maoists has been declared. The country has suffered much due to violence in the last seven years. National economy was ruined and development activities came to a virtual standstill. Thus, peace is a must not only for security and stability but also for development and democratisation in the country. Peace is the major prerequisite for development and stability. As peace process has already started, all people, irrespective of their political ideology, must make sincere contribution to permanently solve the Maoist problem and restore peace in the country. It is not the time to raise suspicion over the intention of ceasefire and peace process.
There had been some efforts in the past to end violence and talks had also started with the Maoists. However, those efforts failed to end violence and restore peace simply at the absence of necessary homework as well as an agreed code of conduct. This time both the government and Maoists seem to be serious and are moving cautiously with necessary preparations. They have also realised the need for a code of conduct for the peace talks, for which, as said by Minister Pun, both sides are working seriously. The past experiences have also shown that despite declaration of ceasefire at the central level, the Maoist cadres continued their offensive activities at the local level. This was one of the major reasons for the failure of the peace talks in the past. Such mistakes have not been repeated this time, which speaks of the seriousness of the peace process. The code of conduct would, thus, be a concrete work towards transforming the ceasefire into a lasting solution.

Education Day

THE nation is celebrating the 27th Education Day today to review the progress made so far in this vital sector and chart out the future course of action. As such, this day is celebrated every year with students participating in different rallies and authorities spelling out their programmes for the improvement in teaching and learning across the nation. That this act has been reduced to a mere ritual and the schools and colleges simply grow in quantity, with quality remaining where it was before, compels us to rethink the broader policy options for education. The national education policy, which has been liberalised over the years to increase the private sector participation, has done both good and bad for the country. It encouraged private schools to come up and cater to the growing educational needs of the growing population. At the same time, however, it has failed to monitor whether the private schools are following minimum set of standards to ensure students receive quality education for a reasonable fee. On the other hand, the public schools have suffered on account of a general apathy and lack of adequate resources and aids needed for a quality teaching and learning environment.

At the higher levels, in the many plus two's and campuses under the Tribhuvan University, the secenario is not much promising either. Some private schools and campuses are better than others in terms of what they deliver, but most are outcomes of business zeals of some enterpreneurs, who know how to lure students with big promises and not keep them even as the fees are quite high. Most rural areas are without good private schools and the public schools there are without good teachers and other facilities. While the higher education is in need of a drastic improvement, we are still talking about giving access to Education for All. Against that backdrop, the government's recent decisions reached in consultations with the private boarding school authorities can be lauded as important in improving the scenario. But a long term policy and what it is that our education system wants our school and college graduates to be like have to be spelt out before the commitments that come from the authorities on every Education Day are realised. Now that peace is on the horizon and education sector is likely to be spared of the frequent bandhs, a clear and long term vision should help.