Kathmandu - This week the media covered the controversies built around Proposed Educational Policy and appointment procedure of VCs and other positions in higher educational institutions. The case of lack of permanent teacher’s position for technical education was raised multiple times this week. A school in rural area that has leave for only 10 days (under existing policy provisions schools are closed for 145 days) , for learning improvements of students was also covered in themedia. A news article discussed about the pressure from private schools to dismiss the recommendation to make them not-for-profit in future. A news informed that the Education Minister was also criticized in the parliament for delaying the Federal Education Bill and for not supporting the federal education policy formed under the leadership of the minister himself. 

- There were multiple news revolving around the VC of Universities as about VC’s of 7 Universities are expected to be replaced very soon. A news stated that none of the three personals recommended for VC by the selection committee for TU meet the required merit of 20 years’ experienceor required specializations. Another news reported that most of the VCs due to leave the position soon, are all leaving the position behind  multiple controversies. It also mentioned that these VC's were appointed underpolitical influences.

The news about VC’s selection procedure and the political appointment culture has constantly been receiving negative coverage for several weeks. It can be analyzed through other political news as well that the public outcry to stop power sharing among parties and factions within parties while appointing important positions in higher education institutions is being felt but has not made to the deafened ears of key leaders. 

- A news reported with a picture stated that students of a Majhi commute where leaving in a hut built in a forest of Ramechhap district to ensure access to school in the monsoon season. Children from Majhi community at Kothabe have been compelled to go to school from a hut deep inside a forest due to the lack of bridge over the Sunkoshi River in Khandadevi Rural Municipality, Ramechhap district. Mostly girl students spend nights in a small hut in the forest near their school as they cannot cross the flooded Sunkoshi River with the help of tubes of the wheels of vehicles during rainy season. They have been staying in the hut in a group. They go to school from the hut on all working days, except holidays. But boys have been commuting to school from their homes as they can cross the river with the help of the tubes.

Leaving in a forest to be schooled is a news that can be analyzed through multiple dimensions. a) This short of challenges and inequity and the level of commitment for education has never been recognized by the school system, its evaluation mechanism or through any government policy that rewards schools merely in the merit of exam results. b) On the other hand, this news signifies that school and education has become the most prioritized agenda also in rural set up, sometimes leveled higher to self-security, and health.  c) It would be very important information to identify how and what other social factors in the community have influenced a community to collectively accept ‘A group of girls leaving in a forest by themselves’ worth the risk to not miss the school. d) Another news this week had reported that the school opens for 350 days a year, to ensure quality education. The devaluation of social life and cultural practices over education can be dangerous, and could be linked to lose of respect to our own culture and social valuesand relations that education may have played a role to establish in communities.

- This week Minister of Education was reported to state that the government needs to work with private sector for quality education. Previously the Prime Minister was reported to have stated similar statement in an event organized by private schools. The Minister has said that the government should work together with the private sector to boost the education quality of community schools. Inaugurating the second International Conference on Quality Education-2019,sponsored by a private telecom held in a private school, Minister Pokhrel said, “Since the government implemented School Sector Development Plan 2016- 2023, support of private education institutions has been crucial to scale up the quality of education in rural areas, mainly through classroom teaching methods.” The conference was held at the joint initiative of Centre for Education and HumanResource Development (formerly Dept of Education) under the Ministry of Education and Rato BanglaFoundation, a foundation formed by a private school.

Figure : A schoolboy performing headstand on an open ground during break time in KTM_aug 27_ THT