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🇳🇵 Nepal /Technology

Mountain students to suffer more as off Sundays pile on learning holidays

From Kathmandu Post · (1d ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Mountain students in Nepal face significant learning disruptions due to a combination of seasonal migration for income and harsh weather conditions.
  • Families migrate for Yarsagumba harvesting, causing children to miss up to 1.5 months of schooling annually, a period that often coincides with enrollment campaigns.
  • Schools in mountainous regions struggle with low attendance and short academic sessions, leading to declining student numbers and concerns about effective teaching.

The federal government's push for a uniform academic calendar across Nepal is encountering a stark reality in our mountainous regions, where the rhythm of life is dictated by nature and livelihood. For families in places like Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality, the annual migration to collect high-value Yarsagumba is not just an economic necessity but a deeply ingrained cultural practice. This means children, like Chhundup Tamang's sons, are routinely pulled away from classrooms for extended periods, making consistent schooling an elusive dream.

Children cannot study regularly due to the weather and family compulsions.

— Chhundup TamangA resident of Mugu explaining the challenges his children face in attending school regularly.

Teachers like Jagat Budha voice the frustration of educators facing near-empty classrooms. When students are absent for months due to seasonal migration or weather-related closures during the rainy season, the very concept of an 'academic session' becomes questionable. The rural municipality's provision of a month-long winter break, while necessary due to the biting cold, further shortens the time available for formal learning. The result is a learning environment where children might attend school for only about six months a year, if that.

When students do not even show up, what is the point of opening the school? An academic session starting in April is impractical in mountainous districts where livelihoods depend on seasonal movement.

— Jagat BudhaA teacher at Kimri Basic School, expressing the difficulties of maintaining regular classes.

This situation highlights a critical disconnect between top-down policy and the ground realities of diverse communities within Nepal. While the intention behind a national academic calendar is understandable, its implementation must be sensitive to the unique socio-economic and geographical contexts of regions like Mugu. The reliance on Yarsagumba collection for family income, and the subsequent impact on education, is a complex issue that requires nuanced solutions. Furthermore, the trend of parents sending children to pursue Buddhist education in monasteries, as noted by Subas Chandra Rawal, adds another layer to the declining enrollment in community schools. From the perspective of the Kathmandu Post, this story is a poignant reminder that national policies must be flexible enough to accommodate the varied realities of our nation, ensuring that no child is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.

On top of that, with irregular attendance from both teachers and students, there is not even six months of effective teaching.

— Subas Chandra RawalChief administrative officer of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality, highlighting the lack of effective teaching time.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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