COMMENT

Educational ethics

Last Saturday was a joyous day for thousands of young school students. But it was also a day of despair for thousands more. Yes, we are talking of the SLC (School Leaving Certificate) exam results, which was published by the Office of the Controller of Examinations that day. A whopping 205,541 regular and 32,082 exempted students had sat for the examination in the mid-week of April. Out of this huge number of students, only 45.72 percent in the regular lot and 22.85 in the exempted section passed. This means more than one hundred thousand young students failed to get through the exams, which most students describe as the "Iron Gate".

But besides discussing the reasons why so many students fail, let us take up this opportunity to dwell on the controversy that has surrounded the results of the SLC exams for some time now. While it is difficult to say how well the exams are conducted and how fairly the papers are checked, as so many students in every nook and corner of the country partake in it, what can be presumed is that while declaring the top students of the exam, some foul play goes on. This time, the authorities did away with the traditional practice of announcing the names of the top ten ranking students, but it seems they have done so on hind sight. This is because just days before the results were announced, there was a huge hue and cry over the "leaked information" of the exams topper. Her name was published in several newspapers, including this weekly, before the results were announced. Reports alleged that the Siddhartha Banasthali School, to which the student belonged, had given as bribe more than one million rupees to officials of the Controller of Examinations. Later, it indeed proved true that the same girl student topped the SLC exam.

Yet without blaming the student in any way, the point here is, the officials of the Office of the Controller of Examinations, must have come out with a prompt clarification when such a serious charge was made against them. Meanwhile on the other hand, if indeed what the newspapers have said is true, then the government must initiate action against the corrupt officials. But if it is false allegation as mentioned by the student, Sumnima Singh, in one interview after the results were published, then the officials must clarify matters. Otherwise it will be a great burden for the student to carry throughout her life. There will be a blot on her intelligence, hard work and dedication.

Furthermore, when the officials were taking such a major decision of doing away with announcing the names of the top ten ranking students, which has been a tradition of SLC exams for 65 years now, this decision should have been announced before the results were published. Now it looks like the officials took a hasty decision after the media highlighted the allegation of money changing hands for students to get top positions. Also, the results are a highly guarded secret till the very last minutes. So how did some newspapers find the names of the toppers, including Sumnima Singh’s name, days before the result was announced? These are unanswered questions, which honest and other hardworking students are flabbergasted about.

Now to come to the part of so many students failing the exam, it is high time authorities, specially those in the Education Ministry, seriously contemplate why so many students do not pass? Yes, there is the problem of the colleges not being able to absorb so many school pass outs, but this problem should not be passed on to the youngsters. The Ministry must try and establish more colleges and also monitor the performances of the many schools under it. The better schools have to be rewarded and investigations should be made regarding the schools doing poorly.

Meanwhile, because so many students have failed, the whole nation can face a serious social problem when more than one hundred thousand youngsters have time on their hands and nothing to do. Some vocational education programmes could be initiated to absorb at least a portion of this huge number of youngsters, so that they can pursue other careers even as they wait to try their luck next time in the SLC exams. So while thousands of students open a new chapter in their educational life, the government must also learn from past lessons and try and strive to ensure a better future for all of them.

Up scaling of salary in the Budget

By Dr. Hari Bansh Jha

While commenting on Govind Koirala’s paper "Economic Development and Poverty Alleviation Strategies" at a Seminar organised by CSDG on June 24, 2000, Ram Prakash Yadav, former Member of Nepal Planning Commission observed, "Geographically Nepal is a part of South Asia. Yet if judged by economic indicators, including per capita income, it obviously appears to be in Africa." This reminds me of an article that I read a few years ago on the salary structure of the civil servants in one of African countries - Ethiopia.

What is common about Nepal and Ethiopia is the poor salary structure! . The salary structure of Nepal’s civil servants is almost at the bottom in South Asia, which is close to the salary structure of the civil servants of African standard. One of the conspicuous motives in keeping the salary structure low in both the countries is that the civil servants should support themselves by earning money from "extra sources" other than what they receive from the respective governments.

There was no increment in the salary structure of the Nepalese civil servants for last several years despite inflationary spiral. This is also one of the reasons why the morale of these people is low and the corruption is the order of the day.

Under the existing situation, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya’s efforts to raise the salary of the civil servants, including that of army, police, teachers and professors as per the recommendations of the Pay Commission constituted by the government in 1998, is commendable. In fact, he raised the salary structure of the employees more than their expectations with a view to enhancing their morale, capability and performance! No government in the past dared to raise the salary of the civil servants to the extent it is proposed in the budget.

However, the pay hike is discriminatory in character. The salary of the civil servants was raised ranging between 16 to 91 per cent. While the economically weaker group, like the helpers will receive just 16.5 per cent boost in their salary from Rs. 2,575 to Rs. 3000, the high level secretaries would receive as much as 91 per cent increment in their salary from Rs. 7,300 to Rs. 14,000. This is against the common principle of public finance of ‘uniformity’ and ‘justice’.

It is also feared that the up scaling in the salary of the civil servants will add to their purchasing power and create inflationary situation. Since the supply of the goods and services cannot be increased as soon as the purchasing power increases, it is likely that the prices of various goods and services in the country would increase. The Finance Minister promises that the inflation will be controlled and it would not be allowed to exceed more than 5 per cent. But this is not reliable. The government cannot control inflation when the supply of goods and services is not going to increase.

So on the one hand the government has increased the purchasing power of the civil servants by increasing their salary but on the other hand it erodes their purchasing power through inflation.

Hence, there is a perception in certain quarters that the up scaling of the salary alone does not guarantee corruption-free and effective administration. CPN-UML deputy leader in the House of Representatives K.P. Sharma Oli expressed, "There is nothing new in the budget, it is not in the interest of the common people and it is sure that it does not help bring about economic reforms." Dr. Dilli Khanal, MP and economist stated that the increment of salary of the civil servants was a big jump but this alone would not raise the living standard of the general public.

Reacting about the pay hike, Dr. Biswambar Pyakurel said, "It is not a miracle...I name it as a politically motivated budget." Bishwonath Pyakurel, President of Nepal Civil Servants Association adds that the pay hike was "against the rule of social justice as all employees have not been treated equally." Prateek Pradhan further adds, "The salary will definitely ease the life of the poor government officials who are deprived of postings in lucrative areas. But, this carrot will not be enough for the corrupt officials to improve their habits. So, Minister Acharya has the challenge to use stick on those corrupt people. And, ironically, the highest amount of corruption is observed under his nose in his own Ministry." However, Nepali Congress M.P. Gangadhar Lamsal was of the view that everyone ought to make concerted efforts to attain the goals set by the budget rather than simply criticizing it.

In fact, the up scaling of the salary per say is not wrong. It has given some sense of satisfaction and relief not only among the higher-class civil servants but also to the lower ones. The only defect with the budget is that it has not addressed the problems of the lower class civil servants to the extent it is desirable. So the Finance Minister needs to raise the salary of the lower class civil servants at the same rate (91 per cent) as the higher-class civil servants. Discriminatory treatment among the civil servants in pay scaling would have detrimental effect on their working efficiency. Additionally, what the Finance Minister also needs to do is to raise the supply of goods and services as and when the civil servants receive the increased salary. This is needed to keep the inflation within control and to protect the civil servants from the possible erosion of their purchasing power.

An open letter to the Prime Minister

As a member of the German section of Amnesty International, an international organisation monitoring worldwide the observance of human rights, I am deeply concerned about the fate of Milan Nepali, a 34-year-old journalist working for the pro-CPN newspaper Janadesh. Milan Nepali was last seen by several witnesses at Sundhara, Kathmandu, on 21 May 1999, when he was arrested by the police.

Although his relatives repeatedly approached officials at the Hanuman Dhoka Police Station and Police Headquarters at Kathmandu, police denied that he was held there. They subsequently filed two writs of habeas corpus on his behalf in the Supreme Court, yet to no avail.

While Amnesty International recognizes the responsibility of the Nepal State to maintain order and protect life and property, it calls on CPN to immediately halt abductions, torturing and killing of civilians; this must, however, be done by adhering to the human rights laid down in the Nepal constitution and to international standards, to which it is a party.

With regard to Milan Nepali, I therefore request you to investigate his fate and whereabouts - if in detention, promptly charge him with a criminal offence or release him immediately; if in detention, safeguard his physical integrity and allow him access to his family, legal counsel and medical care.

Amnesty International welcomes the steps taken by the Government of Nepal to improve the human rights situation, particularly with regard to the obvious impunity of its police force. I therefore feel confident that the case of Milan Nepali will be taken up for investigation and brought to a just conclusion.

Hans Peter Gebhardt
Im Feuerhaupt 24
70794 Filderstadt
Germany