This is what your little sisters and brothers will be studying in Nepal in a few years' time.

Doubtless, this "scientific" and "relevant" education will prepare them well to meet the challenges of the changing world.


- http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue/341/Nation/13359


oohi
ashu

Rein writes:


"I have never heard any opposition from the likes of Ashu on this regard."


Based on this sort of "I-have-not-seen-any-evidence-of-this-therefore-this-must-not-exist" sweeping logic, Rein hints that I, Ashu, have never been critical of Panchyati education.

Well, one thing about writing publicly is that one can always refer
to one's publication, good or bad, when and if necessary.

(I know, I know, just saying this sort of thing here irritates the hell out of my usual two detractors here on Sajha, but sorry guys, seethe on!)

Anyway, I don't have a copy of that article with me right here and now, but I suggest Rein take a look at one article on education I had published in Himal (English) in the Fall of 1994 -- some 13 years ago, which was critical of the then Panchayati education.

I remember, at the time, as someone interested in education, I
went around interviewing various Panchayat-era education-architects, including Narayan Prasad Shrestha and Mohammed Moshin.

What's more, I have also run and taken parts in various education-related conversations at Martin Chautari, an intensely lively give-and-take forum where my views re: Mahendra Mala-type of education are public.

Look, I do NOT believe in opposing everything and all things all the time, and therefore wasting my very limited intelligence. I do not believe in having a 25-item ko demand list to get my points across.

Logistically, from experience, I have come to believe in having ONE and ONLY ONE clear and concrete future-oriented priority in every domain, and I believe in going after that priority like a bulldog
with all the focus one can muster.

In this vein, I am NOT interested anymore to talk about the past -- the ills of the Panchayati education and what not. Panchayat is gone. Finished. No point looking back to go forward.

That's why, I, as a citizen, am interested in talking about a
possible FUTURE scenario: That is, what if the Maoists' force down their roti-in-the-sky education down our children's throat?

What then?

Sure, I accept that the probability of that's happening varies from person to person (depending on who you talk to) -- but, I, for one, based on what I know from Nepal, would like to assign that
probability a high number.

Now, just because -- to come across as some sort of a goddamn 'balanced' person and then play to some self-declared democrats' gallery on Sajha -- I say that does NOT mean that I
have to turn around and be critical of the Mahendra Mala type of education too. Mahendra Mala type of education is NOT the issue
here.


oohi
ashu

Ashu, good to know that u didnt like the mahendra mala education. My only point is the so called intellectuals in Nepal , by and large, were always supportive of the mahendra mala education. When I was in my junior classes, I read how great our kings were and what not. I wholeheartedly believed that. I was brainwashed. Even after the King relinquished some of his power and we had some limited form of democratic system after 1990, I still read Mahendra Mala. It was always there. I dont know if they have changed it now ( after last year's April uprising).

Like many nepalis educated in Nepal, I was brainwaashed by this propoganda education. Only after I left nepal and had my further education abroad , I came to realize how flawed our education system is. The sad part is Panchayti education was there even after 1990. And there was little voice from the intellectuals on this regard. That is my only point. I am all agaisnt this Maoist type of education also. There is no fundamental differene between Mahendra mala and Maoist education. And when people do not say a word about Mahendra mala education and only rant about Maoist proposed education, I smell bad politics there.

I am glad to see that Nepe didn't exactly go for the jugular this time with Ashu's perspective on this ill-proposed Maoist curricula for small children. Nepe, the cantankerous Maoist apologist, tries quite hard to project the Maoists as being a misunderstood lot and that they really aren't as bad as some in the media try to make them out to be, etc, etc.

Ashu got it right. Certainly the Maoist propaganda machinery was playing to quite a different beat while they were still practically underground about a year ago. Now, as part of the spaM, they're learning to roar rather than just whimper.

The article is truly sensitive and it sure got a lot of attention, which, perhaps, the magazine had very well intended.

Having read the article, it reminded me of the Bon Jovi starring movie, "Row Your Boat," in which in some scene Bon Jovi reads the excerpt of the Chinese text book where imperialism is denounced and how he redicules from a popular American perspective. (And, by the way, the movie is excellent!)If the article were to be true, maybe, even the Maoists would not like it, and it could very well serve its purpose . On the ground where many medias are trying their best to prove that Maoists are some evils, this sort of article does not surprise me. What surprises me is some of the things that have been said relating to the same(!) article itself.

"a) Hisila Yami, a top-ranked Maoist netri says X in a major
national newspaper in March 2007. As someone who has first-hand knowledge of how negatively are some schools and students are
affected by the Maoists in Nepal, I, for one, find what she says
to be truly scary for the future of Nepal."

Truly scary? How about the time, if it will ever come, if Prachanda, when some journalist will ask him to clarify their take on the education, says that they have the most practical education that will greatly benefit Nepalese?

Not scary then? Perhaps so happy that one would feel like dancing?

"I say, unless we think Yami -- Baburam's missus -- is simply
an idiotic puppet, we should take her words seriously enough
to start countering them publicly."

What about the most wonderful things she have said?

Well, I got to go to class now; but I just recalled reading Hisila Yami's interview to some magazine on their model of education. I just can't remember the name of the magazine. (Nari magazine?) She had talked for polytechnic and job-centric (practical) education rather than the present model of education...

Typo:
"What about the most wonderful things she have said?"

to be read as:

What about the "most wonderful" things she has said? I was trying to be little sarcastic, but not to mean to be an ardent supporter of her. Only think that intrigues me about Hisila Yami is how can this lady from a conservative family (from my understanding), from "huney khaney" family in Kathmandu can dare to go underground to "fight for the people"?

From my apparant searching on the internet, I couldn't find the interview with Hisila Yami that I think is in Nepali. But, this is what I found in the same news magazine:

http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue/340/Interview/13334

Nepali Times: What went wrong with Nepal’s education system?
Hisila Yami: Fundamentally what went wrong is that we started thinking about education as an industry. People started investing in education—they would sell off their land and homes, so their kids could go to private schools. So much money was invested, but in the end young people just left the country seeking a better life abroad.

What should the new education policy look like?
First the state should regard education as fundamental right. During the ‘People’s War’ our efforts in education were appreciated because our emphasis was on monitoring. Government schools need to be consolidated, facilities provided, and the performance of teachers monitored. Our education policy will be inclusive and will merge the natural and social sciences. The emphasis will be more on polytechnic education because people who get such training can be employed quickly. Kathmandu-centric education may not work for the rest of Nepal. Similarly we will link education with labour, because it is our biggest asset. The future generation will understand Nepali culture not as a feudal Hindu dominated Bahun-Chhetri culture, but as inclusive of all ethnicities, castes, and languages.

What is your stand on nationalising private schools?
When our war was on, we did not let private schools operate in our areas. Our emphasis was on improving government schools, but we also invested and made model schools. We had our own syllabus, we intervened in some private schools, and monitored to see if there was mismanagement. Our stance is, if we provide enough facilities and qualified people, there will eventually be a move away from private schools. There are ways to nationalise private schools without using coercion—by taxing them etc. I do not look after education, but I think universities may be the first target to be nationalised. In areas the government has not been able to reach, private schools will be allowed to operate.

What is your ‘revolutionary education’ (janabadi sikchhya) all about?
Janabadi sikchhya is a type of education answerable to the people. More than 80 percent of our country’s population is in the villages, which means this type of education has to be rural-oriented. Our economy is dependent on agriculture, therefore there must be a strong focus on agricultural economy. The emphasis will be on creating manpower that is productive and science-based, and it will define nationality in a new way. We can’t change the structure right away, we will change the base first and eventually revamp the entire system.

And still, I can't incorporate this interview of her and the "alarming" Maoist educational system posted above. I think I am dumb; but am I really that dumb?

http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue/340/Interview/13334

Seems they take all the news browser for granted...they just think all these internet people will read whatever they have in their sites.....
Not very long back we could see gobinde joshi with few paragraphs on the politics, federal setup, republic what not....kasto din aayo....
now they have hishila yami talking about janabadi sikhhya....what the hell these mafias liers gona teach...what kind of sikchaya is that....some tricking game? hishila first ask your leader to come out with the evidence on that murder conspiracy....no more tricking...

I wonder whether these media people are serious enough....do they really care the people and the land we belong....really every now and then we find these media acting highly irresponsibly....highlighting something that is not credible...something that does not deserve at this crucial juncture...give me anything other than a la gobinde hishila...

Ashu,

I am relieved to see you did not defend the journalistic quality of the article. Otherwise you would be dragging me to the ring ;-)


ImI,

My, let's say, semi-anonymous optimism or your anonymous paranoia or Dr. Strangelove's similar sneer for that matter in this anonymous forum matters nothing as far as shaping Nepal's future is concerned. So don't take them seriously.


Dr. Strangelove,

Forget about the apologists. It should be a trial time for the dismissers and deniars. Shouldn't it ?

Nepe

Rein............. are you serious or just playing dumb here???...Am I the only one who thinks Nepal was united by the Shah dynasty along with our fore fathers............?????????? i mean Im confused here ..help me out here..... am I the only one who read in the history books that before the Shah dynasty named Nepal after uniting it .......Nepal was just a bunch of different small ethnic kingdoms with their own names?????.......how come you misssed out that if you are a Newar or a gurung or tamang or etc...you originally are not from gorkha and you dont speak the same language and culture......you were in a small kingdom that was united to be one strong country to fight off the invaders??????? ...........you must be one of those who hate their culture so you want to rewrite history...................DUDE I am not brain washed by mahendra mala but I am proud to have learnt how Nepal was united and by whom...........I am proud to have the heritage of our brave forefathers who in history had sacrificed their blood so that we were never ruled by the invading countries. ...with that we have maintained our proud heritage and history of the making of Nepal in our books......ANd you call it brain washing....................go pi*s off in India or live in N korea .......if you are to rob our comming generation of kids to learn about their countrys actual history.
you can read about prachanda who murdered 16 thousand Nepalese in just a short period of time.....................he is your hero...........educate you kids about maoism too..........good luck

Nepe ji it's an oxymoron to say someone's optimism or paranoia in this anonymous forum doesn't make a difference. Specially when you have pointed out that you are optimistic towards maoist dictates.

One persons denial may be another's optimistic proclamation. But word plays aside, when one looks at the fundamental quality of lives in Nepal, before and after the Maoists came in power, there are certainly more episodes of Maoists extortions in public and in living daylight than any party in power.

>..Specially when you have pointed out that
>you are optimistic towards maoist dictates.

I don't know what you are trying to say by "optimistic towards maoist dectates". But, would you care to quote verbatim where and what exactly I said.

If you have any doubts/questions regarding my views on anything including Maoists, just ask. Don't assume.

*** *** *** *** *** ****

On the original note, I had a chance to talk to Tony Vaux, one of the authors of the article cited by Nepali Times op/ed and he just re-iterated what I had cited from their work above. He says, that somewhat eccentric curriculum will be a thing of the past.

Nepe

Maoist Curriculum = North Korea

Nepeji ,

you did really made me laugh saying "it doesn't make a difference" - it does more than you think in the cyber world.I am surprised.Many people's opinion does make place in people's mind thru internet.

My paronoia: you should have see that in recent days , i have stopped critizing maoist.My only intention earlier was to tell few people that they cannot be trusted.The things which we are seeing now is proof of it.I have nothing more to say about them.People are realizing.(some still say it is too early to say, may be they are right but MAY BE I AM RIGHT TOO) it depends one's analysis.

Another thing," Eccentric education is thing of past"- well, there are many things that are things of past in Nepal.One of them is communism.Traditional way doesn't mean we have to read about kings but history, nepalese kids should know.(contents of history is seperate discussion).Maoist trying to impose many things - their centric views wouldn't be taught , who knows? Can you say for sure!

Here are some letters to editor

Source:
- http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue/342/Letters/13379

LITTLE MAOISTS

The Maoists’ proposed education scheme is appalling. Why on earth should a child’s mind be filled with political rubbish and deadly knowledge about making guns and explosives, and wars? Compare their ideology with the age-old idealistic belief that children should be taught physical education, music, poetry, and natural sciences. If a condemnable scheme such as the Maoists’ were to be implemented, I’d rather teach my children at home than send them to school. No conscientious guardian will allow their children’s minds to be filled with such rubbish at such a young age.

Khanal,
Stanford University

• The rest of the world may view Maoism as it does the dodo, albeit less fondly. In Nepal people want to give the dying ideology new life by indoctrinating children. This is fanaticism. If Maoists want to be looked upon as reasonable, normal people—i.e., part of the ‘mainstream’, they had better play the part. Only a crank would want to teach philosophy and economics to nine- and ten-year-olds. Not to mention ‘military science’, and the technology behind ‘homemade guns’. I’m sure the syllabus for 12-year-olds includes a section on nuclear weaponry. And I suppose 15- and 16-year-olds will have considerable practical studies of ballistic missiles.

The Maoists don’t seem to just want to replace capitalism with another system. It looks like they want to reach into children’s minds and distort their thinking. They think their ideology must be preserved unconditionally, even at the cost of permanently disfiguring childhood.

Manish,
email

• What are these commie educational experts thinking? This ridiculous curriculum will do nothing to achieve what we desperately need—jobs, economic growth, and prosperity, capital, investments, a strong middle class, and a democratic system. How will memorising Prachanda’s biography and communist ideologies help our nation?

Yes, the communist revolution has become a significant part of our history, and students must be aware of what it was and the players involved. But this has to be done in an unbiased, objective manner. We should also not forget all the other important actors and events that have shaped our history. More importantly, we need an apolitical curriculum that encourages students to think and analyse critically, that fosters entrepreneurship and rewards hard work. We need a capable citizenry up-to-date with the constantly shifting economic realities of the world. Instead, our students will be taught to live off barter, as in medieval times.

And military education? Fourth- and fifth-graders learning to make guns and explosives works if you want to introduce the draft. Mr Prachanda, if you are listening, our kids don’t need to learn route-finding—we don’t want to live in the jungle like you did.

Looking at this curriculum, it’s easy to imagine Nepal turning into North Korea, with a military dictatorship that glorifies its tyrannical leaders. If this is implemented, I am moving with my kids.

Deepti Satyaki,
email

• Granted Ms Yami’s take on education has its limitations, some of which were pointed out in last week’s letters (‘We will link education with labour’, #340, ‘Mis-education’, Letters, #341). But it was irresponsible to paste the Maoists’ guerrilla education policy and curriculum and attribute it to the present-day mainstream party (‘Little Maoists;, #341). Had the Maoist stayed in the jungle to fight the war and won, this curriculum might have been implemented. But with the change in their political status, I am sure their education policies have changed, and I don’t think this absurd curriculum does justice to their outlook.

Nepal’s education does need reform. We do not need the monarchical propaganda replaced by communist propaganda, but we do need reform. And the Maoists’ quasi-’scientific’ answerable-to-the-people brand of education has merit—as long as it remains scientific and non-communist (between which they’ve ceased to see the difference), and answerable to the people and not to ideology.

SK,
email

• Re: ‘Little Maoists’. Are you serious?! I was about to congratulate the Ass for his wacky genius, but then I realized this was a bonafide story. Thanks to you, Hisila, with your plan Nepali kids in the Maoist version of fundamentalist madrasas will find themselves not only brainwashed with laal salaamism, but also glaringly incompetent in the software-driven Asian economy. We’ve already paid the price for an educational experiment gone wrong—the Naya Shikshyaa Yojanaa. We cannot repeat the mistake. After 10 years of bloodshed and trauma, our kids deserve better.

Nirmal Niroula,
email

Nepe wrote:

"Ashu, I am relieved to see you did not defend the journalistic quality of the article."


Nepe, unfortunately, I am a mere consumer of news from ALL sources: private newspapers, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, text messages, TV, radio and what not.

As such, I am NOT one of those purists who sit on Nepal's Pulitzer-prize equivalent Selection Committee and decide for all what "quality" is and what it is not.

So, sorry, I remain unqualified to comment on the "quality" of researcher's Mark Turin's that comment in one of Nepal's agenda-setting newspaper The Nepali Times.

Rather than bask in my "article quality-spotting" ability (which I don't have at a professional level), I'd let readers here decide what they make of the story by starting this conversation. Tetti ho

oohi
ashu

It's a different thing to assume that Maoists will come to power in a few years time and it's a different thing to fear about their education policy before them coming to power.

There is a group of Nepali intellects who have already decided god-knows-on-what-basis that maoists will unilaterally sieze power in a few years time.

I find this optimism for maoism amongst the scaremongers even stronger than amongst the maoists themselves. And may be thats the reason why maoists sometime feel themselves stronger than what they really are.

Me thinks that the fate of Nepali politics is defined and determined by the majority of the politically conscious Nepali population, which is always against the extreme rights and the extreme lefts. They have always handsomely resisted these extremes in the past and they will do the same in the future too.

Grabing power and ruling the country single-handedly is not as easy as threatening, beating and extorting some people. Implementing communist curriculum is not as easy as publicizing their arcadian ideology . Maoists have themselves given up the hope for a communist state. If they were such a powerful force, they wouldn't have tolerated the massacre of their 30-around cadres in Gaur. They have learned tolerance in a year. Now as they will know how it feels to be a part of the government, they will understand what it takes to become a legitimate political force. For the moment let them enjoy the honeymoon. We better not run after the crow, when our ears are safely stiched by the sides of our head.

Newuser writes:

"There is a group of Nepali intellects who have already decided god-knows-on-what-basis that maoists will unilaterally sieze power in a few years time."



To my knowledge, nobody has decided anything.
The future is too uncertain for anyone to lay a claim on
it.

What some people, including myself, have done, is this.

A. Looked at what Hisila Yami said in March 2007.
B. Read the comment by Mark Turin Maoists' educational style (as of March 2006).

and then, putting these things together, asked the question:

Is this what we are going to get about education in Nepal?
If so, we'd better be careful.


Nepe is not worried about this.

That's because he's been personally promised by some ICG guy -- with
a crystal ball clearer than Rani Pokhari's water -- that Maoists can't do what they say they will do. So, why worry?

Newuser too has seen the future.

Hence his proclamation: "The Maoists have learned tolerance in a year. Now as they will know how it feels to be a part of the government, they will understand what it takes to become a legitimate political force."


As for people like me, who tends to think about future in probabilstic terms depending on what I read, see, hear and interpret from all sources while adjusting those probilities on a daily basis, that
sort of certainty smacks of sheer short-sightedness.

And if Nepali people were so empowered, then, why the hell have they NOT been consulted about the country is being run since May of 2006?
What are they -- just sheep who can vote?

oohi
ashu

exacactly my views on newuser optimisim.
i have only one more thing to say .The patience you see in maoist right now is very superficial.Their ultimate goal is not multiparty democracy.Ya granted it is hard to achieve that.Who knew in mere 10 years they would bag 5 ministries - local development,planning,woman and culture..Think about it.I see them marching toward their aim.which is good for them but not good for your kids.(ah.. well your kids will be learning hiphop in america:P)

ImI...I agree with you ......you see these people dont have a clue or are just plain stupid...........I mean the maoists current activities of how they want Nepal and what their future goal is enough to send warning signal to any sane person but you see there are those who will benifit from this all......because it is all just a power shift in Nepal........... One power hungry to another power hungry monsters

Ashu, I found your first sentence quite assertive.

''This is what your little sisters and brothers will be studying in Nepal in a few years' time.''

Hence the word 'decided'. The original article had something different.

''This is what children in classes four and five will study, if Maoist plans are implemented.''

Unlike you, I don't see the Nepali people as sheep who can just vote. Therefore I am more certain about the maoists having no chance to rule the country on their own than your -that sort of certainty- about the maoists ruling Nepal in a few years time.

Everyone does the same - making observations based on what they read, see, interpret and experience.

Overall its been fantastic. It takes a lot of political astuteness to contain a decade long armed insurgency. Tell you what? Compared to other countries facing similar situations, ours have done remarkably well.

Ofcourse there are Maoists excesses against which rest of all should unite to force them back. But curriculum? Man, thats too far-sighted rather than sheer short-sighted.

Well, if hardly a hundred thousand maoists including their combatants could rule Nepal in a few years, its time for the tens of millions of Nepalese lower middle, middle and upperclasses to pack their bags and leave the country.

" Well, if hardly a hundred thousand maoists including their combatants could rule Nepal in a few years, its time for the tens of millions of Nepalese lower middle, middle and upperclasses to pack their bags and leave the country. "

yes we are all doing that...that means you too!!