NATIONAL 9 (Spotlight Weelky)]

‘The Education Sector Still Needs Government Protection’

— RAMESH NATH JOSHI

RAMESH NATH JOSHI is the general manager of Janak Education Materials Center Ltd (JEMC). As the sole distributor, publisher and the printer of textbooks, the center works on a round-the-year schedule. Since his appointment two years ago, the center has made steady progress. Joshi spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues relating to the role of the JEMC in the present context. Excerpts:

How do you assess the situation in the distribution of textbooks at the beginning of the academic year?

Well, we have been able to supply all kind of education materials demanded by schools. Frankly speaking, we are supplying books at cheap prices and without any government subsidy.

Despite your claim, many schools complain that textbooks are not available on time. How do you look at it?

This might have been the case until a few years back. But the center is now successfully meeting the demand for the textbooks. Books have already reached different parts of the country and we have not received any complaints. This year, the demand for textbooks is about 158 million copies and we are following that target. It is in the process of printing. I am very proud to say that we have received information that books have already reached many district headquarters.

There is a strong lobby in the country that wants to end the monopoly of the center in publishing and distributing textbooks. What is your opinion on opening the sector to private firms?

There are some vested interest groups who want to dismantle an efficient and capable organization like the JEMC. I don’t think any other organization would be able to offer textbooks at such cheap prices and maintain quality. If you allow other parties in the curriculum business, cheap and low-quality books will flood the market. The government has a certain responsibility towards the education sector. Unlike other areas, the education sector still needs government protection. If the government wants private sector involvement in the center, we must issue shares to the people.

How do you see the policy of privatization of government-owned corporations?

In today’s society, privatization, globalization and liberalization are popular catchwords. Our policy makers are also making efforts to implement such programs. I am also an advocate of liberalization and globalization, but I am concerned about the procedure adopted in implementation. As far as I know, privatization is not familization. The aim of privatization is not to hand over an industry to a particular family but is to encourage greater public participation in the industrial sector. In a country like Nepal where a strong corporate culture is yet to emerge, it is impossible to implement the concept of privatization effectively. We have to enlist the corporations in the share market where the common people have to get opportunity tobecome shareholders. The private sector in Nepal is in the process oflearning and it has yet to show a successful venture. After 50 years of efforts, we have developed some strong institutions under the government sector. If we privatize all of them haphazardly, we will lose all our resources.

What is the financial position of the center?

The JEMC is a non-profit making corporation. The aim is to supply high-quality textbooks and other reading materials at cheap prices. Even in such a situation, we have been able to make some profit. Our textbooks are much cheaper in terms of the prices prevailing in the market. We have already paid more than Rs 40 million to the government. Interestingly, the center was set up at a cost of Rs 40.1 million.

Does the country have any other institution like the JEMC?

We do not have another institution that has specialized in the printing and distribution of textbooks. I am very proud to say that the center has a strong work force and a marketing team capable to handle all challenges. Unlike other sectors, book printing requires certain specialization. I don’t think the private sector would be able to learn this process quickly.

How do you see the future of the center at a time when the government is talking about the need to privatize it?

Rumors of privatization have created some sort of uncertainty in a government-owned corporation like the JEMC. Because of this, the morale of the employees also has declined. The government must make clear policy announcements on the type of corporations it want to privatize and those it wants to retain. An institution like ours is based on the social obligation of the government. I don’t say that the government has to keep shoe and brick factories under its control. In the name of encouraging the private sector, the government should not privatize institutions indiscriminate.