Though the numbers of schools and colleges have grown over the years with the rapid rise in the numbers of students going to school or college, the standard of education in Nepali educational establishments has remained almost in the same unsatisfactory state. Though the results of the recent School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations

gave students reason to rejoice, the results alone cannot be the yardstick for judging the quality of Nepal’s educational system and an assurance of students’ success. In an interaction programme in the capital, academicians stressed that unless the government gives high priority to education and makes adequate investments in the sector, students graduating from Nepal’s educational establishments will hardly have much to look forward to.

While the government declared secondary education free years ago, after the 1990 Jana Andolan, students have not been able to take the expected advantage due to lack of adequate number of qualified teachers and necessary infrastructure, and also of other ways of raising money from students.

In fact, teachers, especially in government schools, are hardly hired on the basis of merit and calibre.

The government should immediately fill thousands of vacancies for teachers in government schools throughout the country. Furthermore, the government should also monitor the activities of schools frequently in order to ensure that they impart quality education, as the quality of education determines students’ future.