KATHMANDU, DEC 30 - A delegation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is leaving for Karnali to examine the cases of human rights violations and closure of schools.
"We are visiting Mugu, Kalikot and Jumla to examine the cases of human rights violation," Shushil Pyakurel, a NHRC member who is leading the delegation, told The Kathmandu Post on the phone.
He said that the report on rights violations would be made public as soon as the NHRC team is back from the field.
According to a statement released by the Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre (KIRDARC), at least 40 teachers have fled schools in Mugu in the last two weeks and are staying in the district headquarters following the threat of the Maoist-aligned students - All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary) (ANNISU-R). With this at least 35 schools have closed in Mugu affecting 2,471 students.
The ANNISU-R in Mugu has come up with a new educational calendar and ordered the schools to follow the same in place of the existing national one.
"Many teachers are fleeing schools in Mugu district as they are under pressure to follow Maoist education calendar," says Madhav Prasad Adhikari, president of the Nepal National Teachers’ Association (NNTA).
He said that the Maoists are also training teachers for a week to popularise the Maoist education policy and implement their calendar.
"Teachers are caught between the devil and the deep sea, they do not know whether to resign or continue with their jobs," said Mohan Gyawali, general secretary of Nepal Teachers’ Association.
Meanwhile, Laba Prasad Tripathee, spokesman at the Ministry of Education and Sports denied closure of schools in Baglung and Bajura as carried by newspapers.
Refuting media reports, he said, "We inquired from the District Education Office (DEO) in Baglung and Bajura and found that none of the schools are closed there."
However, he admitted that "some" schools are closed in Mugu due to Maoist threat.
Meanwhile, a high-level government source blamed the security personnel of increasingly interfering in educational institutions by entering inside the schools area and colleges.
"Schools are sensitive area. They must avoid them at all costs," he added.Posted on: 2003-12-31 04:57

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