Himalayan News Service

Pokhara, July 9:

Speakers at a workshop in Pokhara today voiced concern over the political conflict and its consequences on the educational sector.

In the two-day educational workshop-cum-seminar, organised by the George John Education Academy, speakers stressed that the Maoists and security forces have been destroying the educational sectors for the last ten years.

According to Dr Kapil Shrestha, during the last decade (from 2052 to 2061 BS) Maoists have killed 60 teachers and 66 students, caused the disappearance of 151 teachers and have abducted 62 teachers and 516 students. Dr Shrestha added that the state had killed 44 teachers and 172 students; 14 teachers disappeared while 158 teachers and 115 students were thrown in detention.

Dr Shrestha said that due to the fear of the Maoists and security forces, locals of the mid-western region are forced to flee to secure places. “There are companies of the security forces in 10 schools’ premises. Side by side, the Maoists are hounding the schools for own their purposes.”

Dr Tirtha Khaniya said the educational sector must not be held to ransom for political activities. Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission said, “Children from poor families are deprived of the right to education due to the anarchy in the educational sector. Children of rich folk are getting quality education but poor children are deprived of even general knowledge.”

Dr Kamal Krishna Joshi said the government has hardly spent any money in the realm of education. “Insufficient budget means we can’t offer quality education to children,” Joshi said. Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri said due to the different varieties of educational procedures in private and public schools, there are two kinds of educational outputs.