COVER STORY (Spotlight Weekly)

Teachers Turn Trade Unionists

The quality of education in the schools is fast eroding with teachers neck-deep in agitation and politics. As every political party take educational institutions as grooming ground for their cadres and encourage their loyalists to intervene in school education system, the sacred institutions of education in the nation have been reduced to political battle field where politicians play their dirty tricks. Despite the pouring in of huge 17 percent of annual budget in the education sector, the prevailing malaise have prevented students from obtaining quality education

By KESHAB POUDEL

Agitating teachers: Politics plagues education

When a group of teachers of National Teachers' Organization (NTO) - affiliated with UML - were blocking the road to the Ministry of Education in Kathmandu last week, the classes at a public school in Aryabhanjyang VDC of Palpa district, some 400 kilometers west of Kathmandu, were empty in absence of teachers.

As gurus were busy mustering up their demands in capital, the rural students had no option other than to while away their time. The secondary public school in Aryabhanjyang is not alone to face such situation. In fact, all the public schools in the country are encountering similar problems.

Seeing the agitation organized by the teachers, a bystander had quipped, "They seem to be worse than semi-educated factory workers."

This was perhaps the spontaneous swipe against the educated teachers with years of teaching experience. The teachers were out in the streets marching like trade unionists just to express their opposition against the Ministry's inaction to their demands - a simple matter which could have been better handled through negotiations and dialogue.

Words like negotiations and dialogue do not seem to exist in the lexicon of teachers' associations. Otherwise there is no rationale in taking to the street for each and every demand of the teachers.

Although the number of teachers participating in such organizations are smaller in comparison, their strength is enough to destroy the credibility and quality of the whole public education system.

Public schools are often closed down without any valid reasons in rural areas. From local elections to national elections, the rural schools are the first place where the politics attack. The schools which are supposed to run 220 days a year opens for less than 100 days due to several disturbance. During election time, these schools remain closed for weeks as most teachers go out on campaigns of particular political parties.

"The agitation is almost the regular phenomenon for the public schools," said Dr. Ballav Mani Dahal, an educationist. "Although communities are now allowed to look after the schools, it is the politicians who control the education institutions."

The NTO's agitation is not the first one this year. Their agitation started just a few weeks after the agreement was reached between the government and Nepal Teachers Association (NTA), another teachers association affiliated to Nepali Congress, on various demands. Regarded as close with Congress party, NTA had also blocked the road and locked the gate of Ministry during its month long agitation.

Even if the government now fulfills the demand of NTO, two other organizations affiliated with Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party are waiting in the wings to start their own campaign. As such, there is hardly a season in the academic calendar when the teachers are not agitating.

"We called agitation after the government ignored our genuine demands," said Keshab Prasad Bhattarai, President of NTA. "The officials of the ministry had agreed to fulfill all demands raised by the agitating teachers last year but they pulled out from the commitments leading to the agitation. The failure on the part of the ministry to assert which demands are acceptable and which are not prompts the teachers' organizations to agitate endlessly."

The NTO's leadership also have similar complaints. "We are forced to launch the agitation after the government did not abide with the agreement," said Madhav Prasad Adhikary, President of NTO. "How can we remain calm when members of our community are denied their basic rights?"

Contradictory to their claims, the demands of the NTO and NTA are not at par with the professional and academic environment. No teachers' organizations have ever put demands seeking improvement in the quality of education said ministry officials.

"The demands of the teachers are always vague. There is only a few demands related to the learning and academic issue," said Chuman Singh Basnet, Spokesman at Ministry of Education.

Whatever teacher's organizations may claim to justify their agitational behavior, they always come with political backing and the agitation of the teachers are always a part of political party's interest.

"If political parties stop inciting teachers, they will lose their grip. When the top leadership in the teachers association are carrying the message of their political leaders, how can they be expected to pursue professional demands," said a teacher on condition of anonymity.

All teachers are divided into different factions including association, organization and councils on the line of political ideology of different political parties. "As I smelt strong politics in the teachers' organization, I prevented my teachers from joining such teachers' organizations," said Hitkar Bir Singh Kansakar, headmaster of Paropakar High School. "Teachers are not supposed to bring in the politics inside school."

Paropakar High School is not the only public school that has strived to keep politics at bay. There are other schools too which follow strict code in the schools. "As school headmasters are powerless and community does not have major say in the school management, the situation is not cozy for all headmasters who want to defy political directions," he said.

Nepal annually spends around 17 percent of the total budget equivalent to 2.7 percent of GDP in education sector and school education system have a lion's share on it.

According to the Educational statistics of Nepal, there are 23,885 primary schools, 6,617 lower secondary schools and 3,624 secondary schools. In 24,609 total schools, 130,650 teachers are employed. The number of primary level teachers alone is 91,878. There are more than 5 million students of the age group of 6-15 years learning in different levels of schools.

Because such a large number of people are involved in the school level education, political parties have found it difficult to shrug them off. Political parties, therefore, see these students and teachers as a major vote bank and even mobilize them to their end.

"Teachers are regarded as political workers in rural areas where they have to take responsibility to initiate the political campaign for the particular political parties," said a teacher. "Many teachers even pay monthly levy to the political parties particularly those affiliated to the leftist parties."

As most of the teachers are recruited on the recommendation of certain political parties, the individual is obliged to follow their direction. If teachers were recruited on the competition basis by an independent body, the situation would have been different.

When the very basis of recruiting is on the basis of political recommendation, how can one stop the politicization. Even the member of school management committees are nominated as per their political ideology. As such the commitment by political leaders to free schools of politics seem to be hollow.

Although from ruling party to the opposition, every one speaks sweet commitments and agree to de-link politics from education, in practice, they heartily politicize the education.

"The schools are useful place for the political parties to inject their political influence in the rural areas," said Hom Bahadur Kunwar, headmaster of Patan High School. "As long as the headmaster and school management committee are not authorized to run school independently, it is difficult to improve the situation."

Backed by political leaders, the agitating teachers do not have to worry about their future. If their demands are not fulfilled by the government, the political parties come to their rescue. No one can dare dismiss them as long as they enjoy tacit blessing from the political bigwigs.

As headmaster is powerless and school management committees do not have any say on the school education, the teachers are free to engage in whatever they like.

This is the reason teachers' agitation seems to be a ritual phenomenon. When one group calls off the strike, another group swiftly replaces them with fresh agitation.

Although all teachers' organization claim they are professional organization, no one is willing to buy it. Clearly, all four major teachers' associations are affiliated with national political parties. "As a conscious individual of the society, a teacher have the right to take part in every political activities," said Baburam Thapa, member of National Teachers Organization.

Respected in the villages, teachers are useful for political parties to penetrate into the rural parts of the country. In many areas, the teachers freely lobby for certain political parties. As a result, from recruiting to the promotion and transfer of teachers, political influence is deeply involved.

"You need to have a backing of at least one of the teachers' organizations to survive as a teacher. If you don't have a support, you will be in trouble," said Keshab Prasad Bhattarai, President of Nepal Teachers Association. "In most of the VDCs where CPN-UML and CPN-ML are in power in local bodies, they will not tolerate any teachers who are not their followers."

The last year even the government handed over the teachers quota to the Members of Parliament and made recommendation of MPs compulsory to became teachers. In such a situation, only a follower of particular political parties can enter this profession. In many cases, the unqualified and incompetent persons get entry into the schools. As most of the followers and workers of the political parties are lower in their academic quality and grade, the same is reflected in the school teachers.

From very initial part of recruiting to the promotion and transfers, the qualification is not the marks, division and capability but political affiliation. Even school management committees are not free from politics since every government and local VDCs nominate their own followers in such committees.

"You will be appointed as a teacher if you have academic certificate of basic requirements. No body cares whether the certificate is fake or valid," said Dr. Dahal. It is estimated that more than 30 percent of the teachers have fake certificates bought from university in Bihar and Utter Pradesh State of India.

Even Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala recently accepted this truth publicly but he cannot do anything to them as these teachers are members of different political organizations who can protect them in the time of crisis.

The situation in the government schools is such that those who have strong political backing need not worry about their career. "If anybody questions the discipline of the followers of particular teachers' group, the organization come to their rescue," said a teacher.

"Political affiliation is the major criteria for appointment of teachers. No one can get appointment, if he\she is not a follower of certain political group," said educationist Dr. Ballav Mani Dahal. "How can you de-link the politics and education at a time when the recruitment of the teachers are made on the basis of political recommendation?" asked Dahal.

Following the restoration of democracy, every political parties performed three duties first, they formed student unions, teachers unions and trade unions. In term of monitory and human power, they see the teachers organizations as milching cow.

Teachers' organizations provide political parties money as well as free volunteers. As political leaders are losing their grip on the society, they are now banking on the teachers and students for the votes.

"Teachers are forced to take the membership of any of the teachers' organization for their own protection. The teachers in the areas where CPN-UML has stronghold are often harassed. In such period of time, we (NTA) come to their rescue," said Keshab Prasad Bhattarai.

One of the reasons for politicization to such extent is the intolerance of political parties to their opponents. There is neither a policy to require good education background for teachers nor is there any thinking in this direction. Following the restoration of democracy, many competent teachers were killed by rival political parties.

Only the unqualified persons and political workers have joined in a profession where the best and brightest are required. Schools have become a dumping site where unemployed party workers are conveniently employed.

The teaching profession was politicized since the inception of new education system in 1971. Panchayat government appointed sympathizers of the system as teachers then. Even today, the Congress and communist workers are following the same footsteps.

"It is because of appointment of teachers through this political pressure that the education sector is being pushed towards a dark future," said former secretary Narshing Narayan Singh.

Since there is no carrot and stick system, teachers are lured into politics and start seeking political backing for themselves. As politicians require permanent workers in the villages, they are given political protection and are let free to do whatever they like.

Autonomy for schools is the best way to stop the politicization but the teachers association oppose any move to introduce such practices. Even political leaders do not want to give greater flexibility to the school management committees.

Autonomy for schools holds out the prospect for greater responsibility, increased accountability and longer working hours which the teachers do not relish for obvious reasons.

Teachers and ministers are more interested in playing petty politics than taking classes, running private tuition rackets instead of administering official tutorials and gossiping than academic research.

In 1998 National Education Commission had suggested that granting autonomy to schools in academic affairs would help raise standards of public schools, provide more opportunities to the teachers and students to enhance and sharpen their creative talents and inculcate greater involvement in academic activities. In addition, autonomous schools would also help develop innovative and educational techniques and reduce the influence of political parties.

The present system of public schools permitted the freedom to teachers, students and school management committee to do on their own. Stronger and more powerful the schools management committee and headmaster, better the quality of education. Under the prevalent system, a headmaster is just the first among equals with no real authority to discipline fellow teachers.

"We cannot even transfer a peon. How can we ask teachers to be more obedient and regular?" asked a headmaster.

Some of the existing rules and regulations imposed by the government on public schools are weak and meaningless which are sometimes hard to abide by. In fact, a school management committee and headmaster do not have the freedom to choose because the regulation does not allow them to do so. They have to tolerate every activities of the teachers appointed by the District Education Committee.

If the schools were handed over to the community, the academic situation may have been completely different and teachers would have been forced to abandon their political attachments.

No political leaders want independent and community-based school management committees. They know that as soon as the management committee becomes stronger, the political leaders will loose their influence on teachers and by extension to the community as whole.

Opposition against independent school management committees is entrenched among teachers, politicians and administration for a number of reasons. It has been argued that independent school management committee will turn the present education system more expensive.

School Management Committees (SMCs) should be seen as an integral part of the educational development of the community, and not simply as a back-up support unit for the local headmaster. SMC can interact with social and political leaders to create awareness of adult educational needs and especially the needs of underprivileged groups in the community.

As long as teachers are not accountable to the community and society for their academic responsibilities, one cannot de-link the politics from teaching profession.

In the 21st century in an economy driven by intellect and powered by ideas, at a time when children over the world are getting quality education, Nepalese children are being denied their rights. There is no challenge more important than this for Nepal as it enters the new century with such politicized education system.

‘Ministry Is Considering To Give More Authority To Headmasters’

— Chuman Singh Basnet

CHUMAN SINGH BASNET, Spokesman of the Ministry of Education, is knowledgeable about the problems and challenges in the field of education in the country. Basnet spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues. Excerpts:

How do you justify the investment in the public schools at a time when they are regarded as political battle fields?

If you see the result of School Leaving Certificate and number of school going children, these public schools have provided a large number of young Nepalese with the chance of study. Only a few people in urban areas have access to the private schools; it is still public schools where largest number of Nepalese are getting education. The investment to the public schools are justified. In totality, the public schools still have the biggest responsibility.

Then, why is the quality of education eroding at public schools?

I don't agree that quality of public schools are as bad as it is reported in the media. Of course, the public schools are not better than private schools. If you see the quality of education in terms of investment in the public and private schools, public schools are still better. Public schools have many experienced teachers and hard working students.

What about the politics in schools?

The ministry is very much committed to improve academic performance in the country. Even Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala recently called to end politics in education. This is a good sign. The ministry is also making every efforts to improve the academic situation.

How do you see the frequent agitation by teachers?

We sorted out all kinds of agitation on the basis of discussion with the concerned parties. The ministry is very much aware to provide more facilities to the teachers. We have some weaknesses in managing teachers. The ministry is now working to provide more responsibility to the teachers. Along with school management committees, we are also considering to give more authority to the headmaster to make him the academic leader of the school. The ministry is ready to amend the regulation and act to change the present state of public school.

At a time when you are talking about the need to improve the quality of education, many schools at remote areas are closed down due to lack of teachers? How do you look at it?

Of course, it is very difficult to monitor the situation in the remote areas but the ministry is now considering to introduce some new way. The role of School Management Committee is important to improve the quality of education. This is the reason the government wants more effective role from such committees.

How does the ministry see the role of teachers?

Teachers must understand their role as they are motivator of the society. This is the reason the teachers must exhibit good conduct that is different than trade unions. The teachers have to justify the investment on them. It is the responsibility of all to de-link the politics from education. The ministry alone cannot do it. The ministry is concerned on the quality of teachers.

‘There Is A Need To Dismantle Teachers' Organizations’

— Hitakar Bir Singh Kansakar

HITAKAR BIR SINGH KANSAKAR is the headmaster of Paropakar High School, Kathmandu. Although a headmaster of a public school, Kansakar has been able to keep politics at bay from his school. He spoke to SPOTLIGHT regarding his experiences and the prevailing practice of politicizing education. Excerpts:

Is it possible to place teachers' organizations out of politics ?

If politicians are committed and determined, you can do anything. It is the political leaders who are encouraging teachers to follow them. The teachers' organizations are divided on political lines of UML, Congress, RPP, Nepal Sadbhavana and ML. During the Panchayat days, there was only one teachers' organization. Following the restoration of democracy, all political parties encouraged teachers to form their own organizations. During the Panchayat days, the aim of the teachers' organization was to enhance the quality of education. So, we must work to unify all the different teachers' organizations into one.

Why, do you think, are the teachers so much politicized?

The process of politicization begins from the appointment of a teacher. One needs to have political backing to secure appointment as teacher. If somebody has the adequate political backing, he/she need not worry about educational qualifications and/or experiences.

Are you member of any of the teachers' organizations?

I have not taken membership of any teachers' organization. I don't want to divide my teaching staffs into different political groups. Each and every teachers are allowed to have their own political ideology outside the school. Schools are not political battle fields. They are sacred place for learning.

Do you mean teachers' organizations are not concerned with education?

Yes. If they were genuinely concerned with quality of education, they would not have divided into different groups. Teacher must remain as a teacher and he must not be a politician. The school are made only for improving quality of education.

So, what needs to be done to keep teachers in the class-room and improve the quality of education?

There is a need to dismantle the teachers' organizations. Honestly speaking, as long as different types of teachers' organizations are allowed to function, politics will continue. The government must nominate independent individuals in school management committees and schools should be handed over to the community. Besides, the headmaster must be made powerful.

How do you evaluate the present role of school management committees?

There is a tradition to appoint politically affiliated individuals in the school management committees. Such practices must be stopped.

Are political parties really interested to de-link politics from education?

I don't think they are really interested on that. All political parties are just engaging in lip-service. Actually, they want their own teachers' organizations.

What is your impression on the movement launched by different teachers' organization?

Most of the agitations are politically motivated as nobody is raising the issues related to the problems in school education.

‘You Cannot Blame Teachers Alone For Politicizing Education’

— Keshab Prasad Bhattarai

KESHAB PRASAD BHATTARAI is the President of Nepal Teachers' Association -- affiliated to Nepali Congress. Headmaster of Pragratishil Secondary High School of Sindhuli district, Bhattarai is also the General Secretary of Federation of SAARC region's teachers' association. Bhattarai spoke about different issues regarding to politicization of teaching profession. Excerpts:

Do you agree that your organization is affiliated with Congress party?

No, ours is an independent organization. There is no doubt that my association and other rival teachers' organization have members who are affiliated with certain political parties. Every individual is free to hold his\her own views but that must be kept out of school premises. Politicization of education is against our wish.

How responsible the teachers' organization are to induce the politics in schools?

I do not agree that teachers' organizations are responsible for politicization of school education. Being a member of Association does not mean that he\she is a full time party worker. Of course, I am affiliated with democratic party like Congress but I have not taken any ordinary membership of the party.

But your programs are often attended by Congress leaders. How can you justify your point?

I have already told you that I have not taken any ordinary membership of the party and our members are not ordinary members of Congress party. It is definite that we are followers of democracy.

Then, who is politicizing the teachers?

It is the government itself. Whoever is in the government, they try to politicize the teaching profession. The last government even handed over the quota of teachers to the members of parliament by undermining the legal procedures of appointment and recruitment of teachers. This provision allows the members of parliament to appoint teachers on their own discretion. Even District Education Committee appoints the politicians in the School Management Committees. This is the way through which education is being politicized. Although there are legal provisions to recruit permanent teachers, large number of temporary teachers were made permanent by a government decision last year. The government is yet to publish the examination results for appointing teachers taken in 1993. You cannot blame teachers alone for the politicization. It is the government which is responsible for politics. Due to politics, the legal system is totally ignored and the acts are amended on the basis of political interests.

How do you see the decision to make temporary teachers permanent?

It is a political decision. The decision is neither legal nor constitutional. We oppose such random decisions.

What does your organization do?

We have been fighting for the protection of the rights of teachers. We struggle to maintain dignity of teachers but no one has highlighted our positive contribution.

What is required to contain the political influence on education sector?

If laws are allowed to take their course, the political influences will automatically reduce. The problem is that no one really bother to follow the rule of law. The government must not intervene.

Are all teachers taking membership of your organization due to their particular political leanings?

Some teachers are even taking our membership to stop political vandalism committed by the communist parties. In the majority of VDCs where UML and ML won the local elections, they are systematically harassing the independent teachers. In those areas, teachers are asking for our support. Some teachers might have joined political parties to protect themselves from the atrocities of others.

Do you believe that the politicization could end in schools?

Yes, if all governments follow rule and regulation, the politicization could definitely end.

‘Political Parties Are Exploiting Schools For Their Own Advantage’

— Ballav Mani Dahal

Dr. BALLAV MANI DAHAL is an education expert. Former Vice Chairman of the high-level education commission, Dahal has a wide range of experience on the education sector of the country. Excerpts of his interview :

How do you see the overall situation in the education sector?

In one word, it is without leaders. The school headmasters are helpless, they cannot do anything to prevent teachers from doing politics. The community does not have any role to play in the schools. In this situation, political parties are exploiting schools for their own advantage. School management committees and headmasters are just slaves of different teachers' associations.

Do you mean that teachers' associations are powerful?

Yes, they are more powerful than headmaster. A headmaster cannot transfer a teacher even if he finds him violating rules and regulations. If you are a members of some teachers' organization, you are free to do whatever you like. They will come to rescue you at the time of crisis.

Why is this happening?

This is due to backing from political parties. Political leaders want to keep their own followers in the schools who can manipulate the local people during the time of elections. Most of the teachers in the rural areas work as cadres of political parties.

Is it not against the spirit of the education?

Yes, it is. But unfortunately, nobody cares about it.