Two news stories are dominating the political education scene in Nepal at the moment. Both are flowing from the office of Dr Bhattrai, the Finance Minister and second in command of the Maoist party. Also ....... Champa's nephew!
The first item concerns Bhattrai's statement of intent that all education in Nepal will henceforth be state funded, organised, managed. So far so good, except the sting in the tail that all private education will be abolished ..... within two years! I'm not sure why the Finance Minister is making such pronouncements as part of his fiscal policy, but it has sent a wave of bemusement around the capital, Kathmandu. The reason is that a significant proportion of all education is private here, since without it there would virtually have been none at all. The state had singularly failed in it's duty to the people and the creation of most schools came from business and community pockets.
The second item is Dr Bhattrai's decision to begin the immediate taxation of private schools! This has caused outrage in the city and led to a challenge in the High Court as to whether it is even constitutionally possible for him to impose such a tax. Apart from the legality of it this seems a strange way to stimulate increased education in the country. Remember that Kathmandu private schools are not like ours. The issue of paying fees covers in many cases only the basics such as teacher salaries, exercise books, textbooks and so on which the state aren't paying! This is why WE are paying three teachers salaries ourselves, because the State isn't doing it.
I think Champa had better have a word!
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