Every time I pass by Durbar School opposite to Rani Pokhari,
the sheer magnificence of the building amazes me. Last week I took a detour and
walked inside the compound for the first time. I knew it was neglected but
didn’t realize to what extent. It’s a pity. Durbar School isn’t an exception
and there are many public schools that need some serious monitoring to check
whether the children are receiving quality education or not. It is time the
government takes stringent measures towards restoring and protecting historical
architecture including the monitoring of public schools that are in dire needs
of students mainly due to their depilated conditions. The rate of admission in
our public school is minimal which should be of serious concern.
Although the drive to upgrade secondary schools to higher
secondary (HS) seems like a right thing to do. I was lucky to visit some public
schools and I noticed many public schools in Kathmandu and other districts are
facing more serious and bigger problems – students aren’t enrolling themselves
to the public higher secondary schools. So where are they going?
I spoke to few school teachers in Kathmandu, Chitwan and
Bardiya and although they were quick to respond to my questions, every one
requested their schools names be withheld. This is ridiculous I thought, but
then nobody wants trouble. One of the HS Schools in Sanepa has managed to
receive only fifteen students in grade XI this year. Last year they received
only six students. It’s a pity that these students from grade XI and XII do not
have a dedicated class teacher. The Education Department does not ensure that
schools have teachers assigned to teach various subjects. In the meantime we
have schools being registered haphazardly by District Education Offices without
proper verification to ensure that they meet minimum government criteria. One
of the graduates Sikha (name changed) of the school was approached by the
school’s teacher to help. Sikha agreed
but she does not receive any salary for teaching these two grades and she is considered
a paid volunteer – NPR 150 per day. There are four paid volunteers in this
school.
The HS School in Madi, Chitwan and another HS School in
Jagatpur, Chitwan have resorted to similar fates. The maintenance funds
allocated to each public school is minimal to the extent that schools are forced
to seek exam and admission fees despite the fact that all public schools cannot
charge a single penny to the students. There are students whose parents cannot
afford to pay the admission and exam fees which force many students to drop.
Principal, HS School, Chitwan said, “We are doing everything
we can to keep the students in school. But we also have to charge minimal
admission and exam fees otherwise we won’t be able to pay our teachers.”
A Lower Secondary (LS) School in Banghusri, Padnaha VDC,
Bardiya is facing the wrath of funding problems. “One of the main reasons we
have been able to attract students is because of the lunch money we provide
through the day meal program initiated by the government – 12rs per day,” said
one of the members of the school board. Although LS School is a public school, it
also faces similar problems – lack of teachers for all classes. The school is
forced to hire part time teachers who are paid through the community fund and
the forest user’s group fund.
It is illegal to charge students’ admission and exam fees
but schools have to hire private tutors and the burden ultimately falls on the
students.
One of the students studying in HS School, Chitwan said, “We
have all managed to pass the SLC with great difficulties. My parents cannot
afford to pay the admission fees for grade XI so I will either go to Malaysia
or Qatar. My future is sealed.”
The Principal nodded in agreement and added, “We have lost
many students because they know even if they study through high school they won’t
get a proper job so their parents prefer foreign employment for their children.
And many families are building concrete houses with their boys sending them
money from abroad.”
With more than half of the potential high school students
leaving for foreign employment, public high schools will continue declining
enrollment rates. It reminds me of the HS School in Sanepa which managed to
enroll only fifteen students this year.
I asked Sikha why there isn’t a dedicated teacher for grades
XI and XII and the reason for the drop in enrollment, and she answered, “There
are many reasons. This school in Sanepa falls in the route where none of the
public vehicles ply but because there aren’t any dedicated teachers for the
higher grades, and classes are irregular. Almost all teachers are affiliated to
one or other political party and hence no one cooperates. The children suffer
and those who can afford will by all means go to a private high school.”
While the parliament members are struggling with the much delayed
constitution writing process, the state is overlooking a crucial gap – quality
education for our future generation is still farfetched.
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