Checks and balances

According to the news item “MoES lauds regulations as goal-oriented tools,” published in THT on Saturday, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) has welcomed the government directives to Community-based Organisations as the ministry feels that the move will aid it in enhancing its much hyped Education For All (EFA) goal. It is true that the regulatory grid the directive will provide to the NGOs will help it in ways more than one, especially as the MoES is clubbing Community School Education with some of the NGOs working in different communities. This is a good step. However, that alone cannot spread education among the illiterate rural people. It is through proper infrastructure, teaching, equipment and a lot of will on the part of the teachers that will actually bring about a change for the poor. With the transfer of management of some 1600 public schools to the communities, private participation is likely to increase. But unless the centre introduces an effective system of checks and balances to keep a tab on things, mismanagement cannot be ruled out.

Prabhat Adhikari, Kathmandu

SLC exam

The SLC examination is approaching and we look forward to a good result this year. But it is unfortunate that thousands of students every year are caught between the need to appear in this important exam and the money-minded authorities. Also, the Examination Control Centre makes public several ambitious plans year after year after finding that the SLC results are dismal. But the results last year were not very bad and it is hoped they will be even better this year. We can only wish that the SLC exam would not be interrupted in the days to come.

Anurag, Dharan

Explanation

I am a resident of Mahankal area in Kathmandu. Along with many other residents of this

locality, I am now baffled by the disappearance of the money officials earlier collected for constructing and maintaining the Mahankal-Tinchuli road. Months after the collection drive, there is no sign of the work starting here. Even when the public are ready to help themselves,the officials are not. The authorities should do something about it or at least provide an explanation as to what is causing the delay.

Karma Mingyur, Mahankal

Sobhraj case

I am a Dutch journalist and I have been surfing the Internet to find out what happened to the Charles Sobhraj case. He was convicted by a Nepali court to life sentence. As I understand, the hearings of the court of appeal started on March 10. Yet, I haven’t seen any news regarding this. Newspaper readers need to be updated on it.

Aisia Okma, via e-mail

Sidelined

Both the state-controlled and private media are highlighting only a few causes and persons lately. And that applies to areas other than the media alone. The silent majority continues to be relegated to the sidelines of all that is good in this country. But all this while, pollution is occurring at an all-time high in the Kathmandu Valley. Professionals seldom venture beyond urban areas. The countryside has no doctors and other medical staff. Violence rules the roost in the countryside. It is important that the policy framers prioritised the rural areas in their agenda.

Eakprasad Duwadi, Ratna Rajya College