Public education system in Nepal
Background: In former times there were few schools and only a few elite people had access to education. Women were not allowed to go to school during the 20th century. In this modern age tradition has been changed because of globalization, the mass media and the efforts of organizations. Every child, both boy and girl, now has access to education but many schools have too few classrooms, insufficient furniture and lack educational materials.
Education has only recently started to develop. The Rana regime in Nepal suppressed education so much so that it inflicted a major blow to education in Nepal. The Rana regime feared an educated public; so education was never encouraged. There were only a few English middle and high schools and a girls’ high school in Kathmandu prior to the Second World War. After the end of the Rana regime in 1951, education in Nepal was given greater importance.
Although an education system was established in Nepal, thousands of people in poverty could not afford to send their children to school. In 1975, free primary education was offered to all children by the government but the caste system was a major deterrent in the development of education in Nepal at that time. Some schools were established in towns but children living in villages could attend. But the cost of living in towns was so high that people could not afford to stay there.
Education System: From Grade 1- 5 is considered primary education while, 6-8 secondary and 9-10 upper secondary. The classes 11 and 12 are together considered higher secondary. A school leaving certificate is granted to students after passing class ten. Education, science and humanities are offered in higher secondary and a certificate is issued after an examination.
Illiteracy rates are high in Nepal, about 58 %.
What kind of problems schools are facing
The main challenge is that many schools can’t refuse to admit children because it is the right of every child to be admitted to school but the schools are not capable of arranging adequate classrooms and books. Many schools are over-crowded and the quality of education is low.
Why the Education Aid Program?
During our field visits in various parts of Nepal, we found community schools suffered from the following problems:
- All schools suffered from a lack of teachers
- All schools suffered from a lack of basic teaching materials – pens, pencils, books, paper, etc.
- In many of the schools, students were learning outside in the open air because there were not enough classrooms to accommodate them all. (During warm weather this was obviously less of a problem than when it was cold or wet outside)
- Many of the schools did not have enough, or any, sports equipment for the students to play with outside. Students appeared to be innovative and were able to play with what was available, although having more equipment would be a great advantage
- Only some of the schools were equipped with computers, and not usually many of them.
- Many schools did not have a library
- A few schools did not have toilets or clean drinking water
- Many schools identified the lack of a school compound as a problem
- Most students were from very poor families and on the student forms many of them cited dress (school uniform) as one of their main problems along with economic problems
- Many schools did not have a comfortable learning space for the children
How you can join or help?
The Education Aid Program is here to connect your help with the needs of the community to improve the quality of education through Teachers’ Training, school-based construction projects, sponsorship, school-based support projects and educational support.
You can help us with as little as 1US$, which can buy pencils for a child for three months, or 30US$, which will pay for a child’s education.
There are many ways in which you can help:
- Raise funds via online or offline for any specific Education Aid project
- Create a fund-raising page at www.justgiving.com
- Invite friends and colleagues to donate towards projects
- Volunteer Aid Nepal also has a fund-raising page on its website for you – www.your name.volunteeraidnepal.org
Schools looking your help.