E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, NOV 15 -

Lack of security, over politicization in the name of unionism and unaccountability on the part of teachers and bureaucrats has put a serious crimp in the education sector in the Terai region, according to education experts and CA members.

Speaking at an interaction programme organized jointly by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and UNICEF on Monday, they urged the government to announce incentive programmes to boost the sector before it is too late.

Presenting study report of schools from various districts of the Terai, education expert Kedar Bhakta Mathema said the overall academic situation is pathetic despite increasing fund allocation. "Politcal interference, weak monitoring, insecurity and unaccountability are the main reasons," Mathema said.

Over the last two years, Eight District Education Officers (DEO) have been replaced in Bara district and the situation is no different in Mahottari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa and other districts. Not a single DEO has completed his full tenure in these districts, the report says. "This depicts a severe picture of political intervention in this sector," Birendra Prasad Mishra, another education expert said.

Citing the murder of half a dozen of teachers in the last two years, Mathema further said that the fragile security situation has killed the morale of teachers and education officials. "Even District Education Offices are not safe. These need to be shifted close to District Administrative Offices," Mathema added. "No effective performance can be imagined in such a situation."

Speaking on the occasion, UNICEF Deputy Country Representative Will Parks laid stress on a respectful, secure and child friendly environment in every school. "High school students' dropout rate and lower attendance are still a problem in meeting the Millenium Development Goal in education by 2015," said Parks adding, "The government should ensure that no child is left out of school."

"The education fund has been highly misused and there is no transparency in the investment process," said  Keshav Mainali, CA member and coordinator of the AC team that monitored public schools in seven districts a few months ago.

According to Mainali, the numbers of proxy teachers and teachers with fake teaching licenses is on the rise. Male teachers are recruited on female quota under political influence. "Millions of rupees allocated for infrastructure has been gobbled up without any work done," he pointed out.

Posted on: 2010-11-15 08:48

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