Kathmandu - This week the media covered a much higher number of materials on education. Most of the news were dedicated to the budget announcement and its review. Some controversial points in the budget to support private investment in schooling system and some programs announced by finance ministry without consultation with education ministry to make private schools take responsibility of public schools resulted in controversy and multiple follow-up materials. One of the opinion titles bad intentions towards public education stated that the programs could have been brought with the intent to support private schools.

-    News started that the budget programs presented this year weren’t sensitive to the present special context and priority was on mere continuation of the program from last years. Budget for President’s education improvement program and volunteer teacher mobilization programs has increased while budget for scholarships for marginalized has reduced the news article reported. The programs mentions about technology based distance learning but isn’t specific about how to mobilize it in the budget stated education experts. An editorial stated that the budget has a specific mention to promote private investment in schools. The 41th point of this year’s budget doesn’t specify details of which section of education, but bluntly states education in general. This statement and the program to ask private schools to support public schools are controversial points that should be reviewed very critically.

-    Finance Ministry presented ‘Public School Improvement Program’ proposal in this year’s budget to make each private school responsible for improving education quality of at least one public school and was reported that the ministry brought it in consensus with the private school owners. Minister during a deliberation on the budget for the fiscal year 2020-21 stated that  since private schools were commitment to support government’s cause under their corporate social responsibility, the ministry had included the new provision. Point number 166 of the budget has a provision to make private schools responsible to improve the quality of public schools. This new program has received widespread criticism from stakeholders, including private school owners. Even Minister of Education, Science and Technology is not happy with this provision media has reported. Education Minister issuing a statement expressed dissatisfaction with the program and said that his ministry was not responsible for including such a provision in the budget. He had said that it would not be wise to give the responsibility of public schools to private schools. “It would have been better, if a separate fund had been created for improvement of public school and private schools were also asked to contribute to the fund,” Education Minister stated in the statement. Speaking in the House Finance minister stated that it did not intend to hand over public schools to private school owners but just tried to take the help offered by private school owners. Refuting Finance Minister's  claim that private schools suggested that they be included in the new program, PABSON has stated no such talks were held between them and the government. Many experts were reported stating with will only strengthen the morals of the private schools to flourish while demoralizing the teachers, parents and students of public school, and advocates of public schools. 

This incident represents how undermined education sector and the ministry itself has been considered in respect to finance and its ministry by the government or at the list the finance ministry. On the other hand, it also exposed how much interconnected the status of public school and the government financial plans are, thus calling in debates on better financial approach to empower public schools.

-    MoEST issuing a ‘Teaching-learning guidelines’ stated that alternative methods could be adopted to continue teaching-learning activities. Issuing a press statement minister had issued a guideline to resume teaching and learning activities using alternative methods. He has requested the center, province and local levels to implement the guideline effectively from June 15 to facilitate teaching learning activities using online platforms. The ministry has requested schools  to adopt alternative methods to teach students as schools have been closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Education Minister also was reported stating that the ministry had been working to conduct the pending examinations of school and university levels.

-    An editorial titled ‘The questions raised by Sanskrit language’ pointed out that the recent efforts to bring Sanskrit education into regular schools despite the existence of Sanskrit schools and universities could have been a step in conflict to the constitution and education policy that focuses on mother language.

-    Dr Govinda KC, a senior orthopedic surgeon, was reported to have announced to stage a two-day protest in Darchula headquarters Khalanga on June 2 and 3. Issuing a press release putting forth a three-point demand calling for access to quality health and education for people living in border areas and protection of the country’s sovereignty. He demanded that medical colleges be established in Gandaki Province, Dadeldhura, Udaypur and Ilam. Geta Medical College be brought into operation and MBBS course be introduced in Karnali Academy of Health Sciences and Rapti Academy of Health Sciences. He has also demanded that the earlier agreements signed with him be implemented without any delay.

A report had stated that the budget indicates that the temporary teachers who had already received ‘Golden handshake’ farewell where still in the job. Another report stated that this year’s budget has separate specific mentions to support needy family, students and public schools as a relief support. Sanskrit language controversy continued to be subject of some materials this week as well. 

'Education this Week' is a joint effort put to analyze the press coverage of education in Nepal’s selected print media published in Kathmandu. The main aim of this effort is to identify and explain major education issues picked up by the media and give back and foreground of the news. This, we believe, will help policy makers and other responsible people to keep abreast with ongoing concerns and discussions on and around education. EduKhabar, in collaboration with the Center for Educational Policies and Practices (CEPP) , has produced this analysis based on the news printed in Kantipur (Nepali) and The Himalayan Times (English), Dailies between May 27-June 2, 2020 (Jestha 14-20, 2077) - Editor.

Read this analysis in Nepali : सार्वजनिक शिक्षाप्रति बदनियत

Read last week’s analysis: How are parents going to pay fees while in lockdown?

All analysis read by this link : Education This week