Khotang, Jan 9:
Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality has initiated a debate on how education quality could be enhanced in community schools.
The municipality began consultations and discussions with political representatives, ward education committees, principals, chairs of school management committees, teachers, former teachers and students in a bid to restore attraction towards community schools.
Mayor Tirtha Raj Bhattarai informed that educational interactions were launched to find out root causes why quality in community schools was eroding. “State has invested a huge chunk of money on community schools. There are skilled teachers with higher education as well. But, number of student is declining sharply,” he worried.
He further lamented if the atmosphere is not created favourable to retain students in villages, schools will be deserted in some years. Present situation is already a bad omen, Bhattarai warned. Students are in need of age and grade appropriate education and skills, he argued.
Migration, increased number of private schools, low birth rate and foreign employments are some causes behind declining number of students in the community schools, the municipality observed, adding it is urgent to retain students.
In this connection, the municipality collected suggestions on Sunday for enhancement of quality education from the all-side discussions. As many as 32 persons among the participants in the discussion furnished suggestions on how community schools could be turned into places of quality teaching and learning.
Some speakers viewed if the politics improves, community schools improve. Similarly, some others argued village itself should be a livable place for school improvement.
Moreover, the suggestions were- mandatory provision for people’s representatives to enroll their children at community schools, management of residential schools, frequent orientations to parents, and timely and contextual curriculums.
The municipality has assigned Executive Director of Shuvam Foundation, Surya Bahadur Rai, as a coordinator and Principal of Pancha Secondary School Diktel, Laxmi Prasad Khanal, and a technical assistant at education section of municipality, Prem KC, as members of a committee to prepare a detailed report and submit to the municipality. They are asked to prepare report in five days based on the suggestions.
“In five to seven years, there won’t be students in schools at all. So, we are all set to find causes of decline in education quality,” Mayor Bhattarai underscored, vowing strict implementation of the suggestions.
The committee report would be discussed again among teachers and people’s representatives at ward level. Forthcoming academic session will pay heed to the suggestions and recommendations, according to the municipality.
Most of the community schools in Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality are facing downturn of student for some years. Importantly, some schools have more teachers than students.
The chairpersons and principals of such schools had already made commitment to promote quality education, but impact is still awaited.
There are 93 schools- secondary, middle and basic combined- in this municipality. Although the mayor launched campaign for quality education since his election to the post, the result is elusive.
Kedar Magar/RSS
