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Education experts, teachers, parents, and stakeholders have raised serious questions about the role of the government, saying that the quality of public education is deteriorating day by day. In an interaction on “Improvement in Public Education” jointly organized by the Education Journalists Group and Kathmandu University School of Arts, they concluded that the government’s apathy and weak policies are responsible for the chaotic state of public education.
At the program, facilitated by Education Journalists Group President Nirjala Kakshapati, speakers emphasized that the government itself should take the lead with seriousness, planning, and investment to improve public education. They said that low investment in the education sector, shortage of subject-specific teachers, and government statements that demoralize teachers are the main reasons for the decline of public education.
Nanu Maya Parajuli, Co-President of the Teachers’ Federation, made a serious allegation that instead of improving public education, the government itself is trying to destroy it. Stating that teachers are discouraged due to insulting statements coming from high-ranking government officials, she said that the practice of demoralizing teachers should be stopped immediately. Stakeholders participating in the program demanded that the budget for education should be at least 20 percent of the total budget. They also expressed dissatisfaction over the shortage of subject-specific teachers and the lack of additional posts.
Dr. Binayak Thapa, Head of Kathmandu University School of Arts, presented the fact that many community schools are still operating in 60-year-old dilapidated buildings and the learning process is also in a dilapidated state. Educationist Dr. Bishnu Kaki expressed the view that since education is linked to the economy and society, learning should be made the center of education. He also presented the argument that the modality of education should change with the times.
Krishna Thapa, Founding Chairman of the Community School Management Committee, complained that free education was only a slogan and in practice, free education was not provided in community schools. Stating that there was difficulty in running schools due to lack of budget, he said that reforms would be impossible without adequate budget allocation in the education sector.
Education policymaker Tika Bhattarai seriously argued that only children of parents with poor educational status could attend community schools, and that the upper class and political leaders were not interested in reforms. Namraj Neupane of the Department of Education stated that there are two classes in society and warned that children from those classes who do not have access to opportunities will be deprived of quality education and other opportunities.
Subhendraman Shrestha, Vice President of the National Campaign for Education Nepal, stated that the network formed for public education reform is active across the country and expressed the view that reform will be possible only if work is done in a planned manner and coordinated. Pravin Niraula, Secretary of the Parents’ Association Nepal, emphasized that new teachers should be brought in by giving a golden handshake to the old teachers.
The program was attended by representatives of various organizations including Shekhar Sapkota of the British Council, Dil Bahadur Air of Save the Children, Madhav Pradhan of CBI, Sheshraj Bhattarai, President of ICAN, and other speakers. Rita Tiwari, Principal of Padma Kanya Vidyashram, Kalpana Paneru Sinkhara, Secretary of the Teachers’ Federation, and Meena Sharma, Chief of SJOP, also emphasized that reform of public education will not be possible unless the government is serious.
Program coordinator Anuska Shrestha said that the interaction emphasized the necessity of political will, policy reforms, adequate budget, good physical environment, and qualified teachers to bring about improvements in public education.
