| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 20-May-01 07:14 PM
Greetings,
This is by a 15 year old student in Nepal published in this week's Nepali Times.
Hurt, frustrated and hopeful
Where do we draw the line between anarchy and democracy? Or does that not even matter anymore?
Saundarya Thapa
As I sit to write this letter of protest, one thing bothers me: the present state of Nepal. Is the abusing of its innocence and vulnerability what Prithvi Narayan Shah pictured for Nepal’s future when his dream of unifying the country came true? Terror and intimidation surround us. We fear going to work, or to school or even walking on the street because of ‘bandhs’—forced closures that compel you to agree with someone’s expression of dissatisfaction (or power)?
We, the people, are being treated like dirt in the game of politics. History suggests politics is a game for power. But somewhere, there have to be some hidden good intentions. Politicians must want to develop and improve their nation and not ruin it to suit their interests. The degree to which present day politics revolves around selfishness and power is not just pathetic but also frightening. No one bothers to ask us what we want. Where do we draw the line between anarchy and democracy? Or does that not even
matter anymore?
With time comes development and change in everything, including education. There are great inequalities in our society, and it is not fair that the disadvantaged are not provided the opportunity for quality education. So what do our great revolutionary politicians do about it? They close down private schools. Now, how does that benefit anyone? Not only do the disadvantaged not get a quality education, but nobody else does, either!
Yes, the governments we have had are undoubtedly responsible for the sorry state we are in. There would not have been a need for private schools if government schools provided a first-class education. Most of the time teachers in government schools aren’t there to teach but to do politics: and once again, it’s us, the people, who suffer because some greedy, amoral politicians are playing games with us. In the last session of parliament, the government was planning to pass an education bill to have three categories of schools: government, private commercial, and private non-profit. The private commercial schools would pay taxes just like any other business, and the money would be used to subsidise quality education in government schools. At present, we know that the education provided in government schools and private schools do not match at all. The SLC results say it all: private schools get 90% of the total successful results. That is not fair. But it is also not fair that private schools are to be closed and hundreds of thousands of us are to be deprived of the quality education we have the right to, and we are lucky to get. The education bill never got a chance to be passed or even debated because of the house boycott.
It is pointless closing down private schools when those who actually go there find the quality is good value. If we thought the fees were exorbitant, or the quality was not up to mark, we’d go elsewhere. This is our democratic right of choice. We choose education in private schools, and we want to sing our national anthem because we are proud of our nation and respect our king. I don’t see anything wrong in feeling loyal and proud about our country and the symbol of our nationhood. That’s my opinion, but I don’t force it on anyone.
Hiding behind the mask of politics thugs are abusing democracy. Whatever happened to hunger strikes, and rallies without the threat of violence that don’t force everyone to agree with you? Before asking us to give up the very thing that is going to affect every part of our future, can whoever you actually are who are trying to close down schools, assure us students that we are going to get the same kind of education we have chosen, and are getting? Convince us, before you start vandalising schools. Explore the possibilities at least. (One question has been nagging me: where do the sons and daughters of Maoists leaders study?)
If you look through all the propaganda and intimidation that surrounds us, this isn’t even about education. If it were, then why is the party in power not doing anything about it, and why are the parties who claim to want to bring reforms only waiting to get to power? It’s true: politics is all about power, isn’t it?
If you want to reform education, start with the schools that need it. Be constructive in your protests, not destructive. Bringing down the quality of all schools to the level of government schools does not solve the problem. Raising the quality of state schools will.
We love this country. It’s ours, remember? So let’s start doing something about it. Maybe all this is happening because we, the people, have never been asked. Maybe we have never said what we really want. Maybe it is time we raised a voice. For how long do you want to remain silent? Don’t close schools, not for a week, not for a day. It’s about time we showed that we care. I do, and I know you do too.
Saundarya Thapa is a 15-year-old student of grade nine, and wrote this as a class essay.
|
