Dev Kumar Sunuwar

A CLASS APART
DEV KUMAR SUNUWAR
KATHMANDU, FEB. 19 -

[Evolution supplementary for 17th anniversary edition]
Durbar High School at Rani Pokhari used to attract 1,400 students two decades ago, now there are only 350. This is a classic example of Nepali parents losing faith in government schools despite private schools being expensive. The story of the country’s oldest school is indeed sad and illustrates the state of government education in the country. The other side of the story is the remarkable success of private schools in the last two decades.

A survey done by the Education Journalist Group in 2007 showed that 77 percent of the students studying in private schools had transferred from government schools and that 71 percent of their parents were serving in government offices. And the fact that a majority of the government schools lack students illustrates the shift in parents’ choice from government school to private school.

Why aren’t government schools getting students? And why have private schools become the first priority of parents? The answer is simple — quality. What private schools offer is adequate educational resources, infrastructure and quality teachers.

A Ministry of Education survey shows that the chances of private school students passing their final exams are two times greater than those of students in government schools. The gradual degradation of government schools has helped private schools to cement their place in the Nepali education system. And it has emerged as one of the sectors that have blossomed in the last two decades.

According to educationist Bidyanath Koirala, a decline in the quality of government schools helped the growth of private schools.

The government in 1971 had reformed school education. Subsequently, in 1979, the government gave permission to open private schools with the view that government-run schools alone could not increase access to education for the increasing populace. The pace of establishing private schools accelerated following the political changes of 1990. The then interim government also eased the criteria for opening private schools. And everybody jumped on the bandwagon of establishing private schools resulting in a huge rise in their numbers. Private schools have proliferated from around 3,000 two decades ago to 8,000 today. In a way, private schools have become an industry with an annual turnover of Rs. 29 billion.

Private schools account for around 1.5 million students and 200,000 teachers. As of now, 15 percent of the country’s students attend private schools. Hence, in numbers, government schools are ahead. But one thing is sure; the share of private schools in the education sector will rise continuously.

According to educationist Mana Prasad Wagle, private schools have made a huge contribution in terms of maintaining the school calendar, delivering education through quality teachers and infrastructure.

It is the hard work and dedication of educational entrepreneurs that private schools have become an investment worthy sector for banks and financial institutions. It has also drawn established business houses of the country.

The Chaudhary Group’s tie-up with India’s Manipal Group last year was one of the examples of Nepali business houses entering the education sector in a big way. More corporate houses are contemplating entering this sector. According to the president of the High School Association Nepal (HISAN) Umesh Shrestha, banks and financial institutions have invested around Rs. 20 billion in the education sector. Major educational institutions like Little Angels, White House and Nobel Academy are expanding their infrastructure with bank financing. Half of all the private schools have their own buildings and permanent teachers.

In the Kathmandu Valley alone, there are over 1,200 private schools, whereas there are only 400 government schools. Despite the progress, there are some grey areas. Critics say private education has become too much of a business, hasn’t been regulated well and is still out of reach of the common people. “There is unhealthy competition among private schools, and there is no regulation at all,” said Lakshya Bahadur K.C., senior vice president of the Private and Boarding Schools Organisation (PABSON).

Educationist Koirala also believes the government has failed to regulate private schools. “The government has failed to regulate and facilitate them,” said Koirala. “Hence, there is place to raise a question mark over the quality of education these private schools are providing.” While another educationist Tirtha Raj Khaniya says the government has to bring private schools under its broader framework and support them by implementing the laws strictly. “The absence of a clear education policy and poor implementation of the existing laws are the main reasons that private schools have been much criticised for creating discrimination,” said Khaniya.

Despite being criticised, one cannot deny the fact that private schools are in great demand from the lower sections of society to the affluent classes. The political parties may criticise them as being commercialised, but around one dozen politicians have investments in private schools.

Educationist Khaniya thinks there is an urgent need for commitment from the highest political leadership. Educational entrepreneurs are in a state of confusion currently. Pro-left student organisations are dead set against the privatisation of education while the law has allowed opening of private schools under the Company Act.

“Protests by student unions and teacher unions affiliated to various political parties accusing private schools of commercializing education has created a lot of confusion,” said Gita Rana, president of the National Private and Boarding School Organizations of Nepal (N-PABSON).”The government should recognize our contribution to education and devise a separate policy to regulate private schools.”

The pace of establishing private schools slowed down from 2001 when the CPN (Maoist) made private schools their target. According to PABSON, around 700 schools have closed down since then. But the Maoists didn’t do much to uplift community schools when they were in government. Their attempt to slap a 5 percent service charge on private schools was much criticised and could not be implemented.

Despite being criticised and facing adverse situations, private schools have managed to survive in the last 10 years. Yes, commercialisation of education is rampant with educational entrepreneurs looking for new avenues for investment with the earnings they made from private schools. But one cannot overlook the fact that whatever achievements the country has made in the field of education, the private sector has played a huge and influencing role.

Educationist Khaniya says education is a state responsibility. But the state alone cannot garner the resources required. However, it can support the private sector which can be a complementary partner to uplift the quality of education in the country.

“End”