KATHMANDU – Minister of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) Bidya Bhattarai's list of 42 claims of achievements on the completion of 100 days of assumption of the role was covered by most of the media last week. Minister Bhattarai has given priority of the preparing action plan and process of proceeding of implementation of the Compulsory and Free Education Act in the list of claims the news mentioned. A task force has been formed to review teacher vacancies and propose necessary teachers for the implementation of the Act, the news quoted.

Minister Bhattarai released the progress report of working done according to the agreement made with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the news mentioned. Bhattarai, who took charge of the ministry on 15 July, signed a Performance Agreement with the Prime Minister on 12 September. The 'list' of 100-day work claimed to have been completed by Minister Bhattarai also includes the work done by her predecessor Sumana Shrestha, such as consultancy registration, Tribhuvan University's decision to make question papers in both English and Nepali medium.

Real achievements in education cannot be achieved in 100 days, but the claims made by the minister as achievements appear to be a 'list' of the Ministry's Regular work rather than the achievements due to her. There are many works that are done even if anyone was a minister. Those who are talking about it may know how many are led by the Minister in real. Of course, preparations for the implementation of the Compulsory and Free Education Act is an important but neglected aspect. When done well, that alone is enough to present as an achievement. The long list implies two things: first, her secretariat is not strong enough, second, which is connected to the first is the work of abstraction, which includes prioritizing the work, is weak. It is also a subject that should be handled by the Minister who was a lecturer at the university herself! Possibly she could not give time or importance to it. It also indicates (the lack of) the direction and focus of work. Political side of education is her area of work. She should separate her work from administrative work. Instead of presenting a long list of what she (or her Ministry) did, it is important to tell how the work she started has progressed and if she dared, to tell her struggles.

There was news that the government gave the private sector to print books for school level from 1st to 5th class, and from this year Janak Shiksha Samagri Kendra Limited has added the responsibility of printing books for class 3 as well. Now the printing of books for only classes one, two and four is done by the private sector, the news mentioned.

The highest number of students failed in Class 12th chance exam is in English according to the results published by the National Examination Board, the news published. According to the news, in the Class 12 ‘Chance Exam’ conducted by the Board on 10th and 11th of September, 17 thousand 942 students failed out of 57 thousand 690 students.

The way English is taught and the extent English is given importance is a formula for students to fail. Experience shows that there is not much difference in the use of English language between those who pass and those who fail. This way, our entire system has failed but we are failing students. The point is straight forward: Why do we continue to fail students in English whereas the same student can pass the Korean language test in six months? Why don’t we keep English as an extra-optional subject rather than compulsory when the score is added to the total only if they pass but they are not failed in the grade by failing in English? 

In Pashupati High School of Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City in Dang, there is a problem in teaching and learning as there has been no increase in the vacancies of teachers whereas classes 11 and 12 have been running for four years, the news published. There is a problem because there is only one ‘Relief’ Teacher (position created temporarily as a relief for fulfilling the need for Education-for-All but continued until now) and one secondary level permanent teacher  mentioned in the news.

It is arranged that the students who have failed in SEE (i.e. students scoring ‘non-graded’) can study in Pre-diploma Courses under the Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), the news reported. With this decision of CTEVT, more than 90 thousand students who have failed in SEE can benefit from this provision, mentioned the news.

There was news in Kantipur that under an agreement with the Nepal Law Campus since March 2022, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has created opportunity of internship to the students of law. According to the agreement, 35 students will be placed as Trainee Judicial Facilitators, one in each 32 wards of the metropolis and up to three in the Metropolis office. Now 30 students are working, the news mentioned. Similarly, a 'Festival Camp' was organized in 16 public schools under KMC's scheme of 'Garikhane Shiksha, Mahanagar Ko Ichha' (Employable Skills, KMC’s Wish) , there was the news. It was mentioned in the news that the camp was conducted for the students of grade 10 of the Community (alias government funded public) Schools during the holiday of Dashain-Tihar to encourage students to study through experimental and creative learning, games and entertainment with the aim of improving their academic performance.

A donation campaign has started for the Radhakrishna Gurukul Sanskrit School in Lami Ahal of Pokhara Metropolitan City, the news published. Muthidan (a traditional system of donation of grains collected by a household setting aside a fistful everyday) campaign has been started to run the school regular and to manage the meals for residential students and teachers.

How sustainable this system can be depends to a certain extent on the determination of those who are engage in it. Donating does not mean that the community will feel the ownership and involved, but it is better to turn to the community rather than the government to run the schools. It provides a sense of autonomy and some sacredness to education. However, those who talk about revival of Hindu religious and cultural values are limited to earning virtues to stay in heaven by donating to a priest or worshiping a deity in a temple. The work to support such efforts should also be a part of religious values and responsibility of every citizen. 

There was news that the Karnali Province Government has given priority to the construction of school buildings and constructed 691 concrete buildings. in which period? .
Nalgad Municipality of Jajarkot has vowed not to let charge fees from students at the school level, the news published. Although it is mentioned in the constitution that education up to the secondary level is free, after increasing public complaints that schools are charging fees under various pretexts, the Municipality has promised to take action on charging fees, mentioned in the news.

Many Municipalities have made such declarations. Few actually have succeeded meaningfully. They vow and don’t aid schools adequately. It is sure recipe of failing public schools – such an effort without commitment to aid financially and monitor the quality of learning has negative effect. This is exactly what happened after the nationalization of education way back in the 70s: slowly dilapidates physical infrastructure, lowers the quality of learning and eventually the attraction and trust to a public school. There must be a meaningful contribution to their capacity from the parents to ensure the perpetuity of the quality of a school together with monitoring. 

The students of Natural Resource Management Campus of Dailekh's Dullu are forced to be transferred to other location as the rate of enrolment is less than 50 percent of the capacity of the campus. According to the report, the students of the campus which is part of the Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, will be going to be transferred to other campuses of the university giving priority to locate their preference on the basis of students’ merit.

We are only talking about merging schools so far. It is also time to merge the colleges. Colleges should be mapped by projecting human resource requirements of the projected ‘command area’ and employability and the subjects they offer. In terms of convenience, this work should be done at the Province level. 

There was news that Tribhuvan University (TU) has delayed the appointment even though the selection committee has prepared a 'shortlist' and recommended for the posts of deans of various faculties and other positions. According to the news, the selection committee formed by the office of the Rector of the TU on September 2 called for applications for the posts of Deans of 8 faculties, 6 co-examination controllers, 2 directors, 11 campus chiefs, etc.

There was news that TU has decided to prepare the question papers of all undergraduate departments in both English and Nepali languages from next year on.

The land and property search committee of Nepal Sanskrit University has started search of the land and property of the university located in different places of Dang.

It was reported that Midwest University (MU) of Surkhet and 13 South Asian universities, including China, have agreed to exchange in teaching, research and technological innovation. MU participated the Forum of University Presidents of Hubei (China) and South Asian Universities in China where the accord was signed, the news mentioned.

There was news in Setopati news portal that although the selection process for the registrar of MU has started, the transparency of the selection process is doubtful because the procedure created for the selection process has not been made public.

There was another news that a memorandum of understanding has been exchanged between Far West University (FWU) and South Korea's Jonbuk National University to cooperate in educational activities.

Similarly, there is news that teaching of B.Sc. Nursing and Public Health will also start in Dadeldhura Medical College of FWU. Since the Medical Education Commission allocated seats for that college in the month of August, the faculty of Health Science of the University has opened the admissions.

The MoEST is discussing the continuation of the special scholarship given to students from marginalized communities to study medicine, the news published. Since 2015, the government has been giving special scholarships to the students of Chamar, Dom, Musahar and Badi communities through the University Grants Commission. After this scholarship was stopped for two years without any reason given, the Ministry is thinking to continue it, mentioned in the news.

PABSON, an organization of for-profit private school owners, is going to hold an International Education Conference on November 14 and 15, in Kathmandu, the news published.
There was news that Ajaymeru Rural Municipality (RM) of Dadeldhura has made an action plan to update the local education plan for quality learning.

It was reported that Dhruba Jyoti Secondary School (SS) and Mirmi SS of Kaligandaki RM of Gulmi have been cultivating flowers for the past three years to teach practical knowledge to students. Similarly, it is mentioned in the news that commercial flower farming started last year by Jan Bikas SS of Rampur Municipality of Palpa to teach business to students and make a means of income for the school.

There was news that there is no school in the Bardar of Duduwa RM in Banke, in the border with India. So the children have to go to schools in India across the border. Some 42 families who were displaced here by a flood in 2014 are having to send their children to Kudarbetwa in India for education, mentioned in the news. According to the news printed in Gorkhapatra citing local Prem Narayan Yadav, more than 70 children study in India.

It is important not be swayed by nationality sentiments all the time.  We must realize that India is allowing to our children to study in its schools. We have to think that we do not even admit students if they don’t have birth certificates and citizenship of parents. Going to India for education is not only a compulsion but also an opportunity. The main issue is how long such an opportunity lasts. Not only in Kudarbetwa but in many bordering places, Nepalese go to study in India, for example, Darchula. 

If this is the sensitivity of nationality, why does such a question not arise in the context of Nepali children going to Darjeeling or Dehradun? Rather, it would be useful for someone to study the difference between the students who study there and those who study in Nepal. Another thing to remember is that the number of students in the rural areas of India are also is decreasing as in Nepal. Have they been able to study as a Nepali or have to study as an Indian? This would be another important question. The news is not clear what issue it intends to raise? 

An article by Deviram Acharya has been published in Kantipur stating that the need for restructuring education is dire and should not be delayed. It is claimed in the article that a 57 percent of public schools across the country, that have less than 100 students, can be provided with financial resources and teacher supply by restructuring. The results of the upper classes will improve only by improving the learning from the lower classes, mentioned in the article. Similarly, there is a need for necessary reforms after reviewing the teacher training and teacher qualifications which is about 75 years old, pointed out the article.

In the article of Prabigya Regmi (proprietor of a private school) published in Setopati, mentioned that private schools are facing crisis due to high fees charged under the guise of salary, professional security of private school teachers and in the name of quality.

In an article published in Gorkhapatra, Prem Narayan Bhusal has pointed out that education should teach us to see life and the world as a whole - not only bits and pieces in parts, and even if the learner forgets all the skills he/she has acquired, the person can be content  with human values, ethics, and culture and spirituality.

It was reported that President Ram Chandra Paudel has expressed concern over the increasing tendency of students going abroad as soon as they pass class 12. The President expressed his concern while receiving a 6-point letter of attention by the Education Journalists’ Group on the school education bill, improvement of learning achievement in public schools, management of teacher vacancies, expansion of access to public schools, etc.

Man Prasad Wagle, who is regularly reacts to educational issues through a letter to the editor in Kantipur asking questions that the Ministry has given the No Objection Letter to many students to go abroad and who will be educated in the universities open by the Ministry of Education? 

The purpose of this news review is to classify and synthesize the educational content of the week and provide objective comments from the point of view of social justice and creative pedagogy to the policy makers and stakeholders in one place. In this joint effort of Center for Education Policy and Practice (CEPP) and Edukhbar, the news of daily newspapers Kantipur, Gorkhapatra and The Himalayan Times, online news portals Online Khabar, Setopati and Ratopati and Himalaya TV and Nepal Television. Due to Tihar holiday last week, we have covered the contents of two weeks from last October 19 to November 1, 2024 - The Editor.

Read it in Nepali : मन्त्रालयका सबै काम मन्त्रीका ?!

Read last week's content : Last week in education