Apropos of the news story “Education ministry collects feedback on School Sector Development Programme” (THT, Jan. 25, Page 2), education is a fundamental right of every citizen. Sadly, many children are deprived of it. At the same time, a ‘curriculum heavy on theory and light on practical knowledge’ is less likely to produce productive students. Many of them are compelled to go to Arab countries, mostly as unskilled labourers, to secure their and their families’ future.

Therefore, this action by the government can put a dent in such realities. As per the news story, it has been more than 1,000 unskilled and around 60 skilled Nepalis leave the country each day abroad in search of work. It is sure that there would be dearth of skilled or unskilled human resource that the country needs to run the economy if such trend was not stopped. Therefore, these technical schools will impart a much more skills-oriented education than the present curriculum does. As a result, students can get jobs more easily with less pressure to seek employment abroad. Even if the skilled people go abroad, they can at least find better job with better pay. Let us hope this decision by the government will be implemented.

Saroj Wagle, Bara

Mistake

It is grievance for the people of Nepal that the leaders in the power corridor make grandiose plans and talk sweet words for the betterment of the country within no time. But sad to say is that they have not been able to do away with the prolonged blockade that has brought normal life to a grinding halt, and there are no economic activities across the country for the last five months since the new constitution came into force. Leaders, especially the agitating ones, are not in the mood to resolve the problem. It was expected that thing would become better once the major parties agreed to amend the constitution within four months from the promulgation of the new constitution. But the agitating parties seem to be adamant that the agitation and blockade would go on unless the major parties agree to carve out two federal units in the Tarai-Madhes, a demand the major parties have rejected outright. Curious to note is why the agitating parties are demanding that there must be two Pradeshes in the southern plain which does not have a homogeneous society. I would also like to ask the major parties why and on what basis they agreed to amend the new constitution without assessing the mindset of the Madhesi parties who had been saying that reviewing the boundaries of the federal units in Tarai-Madhes was their bottom line to call off the agitation as well as the blockade that they claim to have imposed to coerce the central government. Constitutional amendment should not have been made without getting a written commitment to end the stir from the agitating parties. What is the use of constitutional amendment when it does not help end the crisis?

Deepak Chalise, Thimi