Kathmandu: There has been a perceptible change in the peace and security situation in the country. But Kathmandu schools are learning this the hard way.

They are fast losing the students who came from far-flung areas during the conflict period. Now that the situation has improved, they are returning home as quickly.

"As the situation has improved, many of our students have left for their villages. In last four years, over 200 students have left that way," said Yubaraj Neupanne, principal of Vaishnavi Secondary School in Panga, Kirtipur. According to him, proliferation of private schools and parents´ craze for English medium education have already had its impact on government schools. "The situation now is that neither we are able to draw the local students to balance the loss, nor we are able to control the dropouts," he added.

There were above 500 students in the school in 2007, the number now is only 235. Neupanne believes government schools in the capital are in a precarious situation as they are not able to draw local children.

Paropakar Secondary School in Kalimati, Mangal Secondary and Bishnudevi Secondary School in Naya Naikap, Janapath Secondary School in Kalanki and Kirtipur Secondary School in Kirtipur, which Republica correspondent visited for this story, have similar tales to tell. All these schools have witnessed a drastic fall in the number of students in last few years.

"Though there are several reasons behind the falling number of students. One of them, and a big one at that, is the end of the conflict," said Jit Bahadur Lamichhane, principal of Janapath Secondary School. "During the time of conflict, we once had 650 students. There have not been these many students earlier or after that," he added. The school is one of the old schools in the Kalanki area. There are around 300 students in the school now.

Similarly, Paropakar School has seen 50 to 60 students dropping out every year. "It is certainly in a decreasing trend," said accountant Gopal Krishna Manandhar.

Janardan Shrestha, principal of Kirtipur Secondary School, said, "Many students went back home after the conflict ended. Most students we have now are not the locals either," said Shrestha. "They take admission in the middle of the session and others drop out without sitting in the final exam. This affects the teaching in the school," he added.

Ranga Prasad Luintel, principal of Bishnudevi Secondary School, said despite quality education provided by the school, he is not able to draw local students.

"Many students have left school as they are headed home after the Maoists joined the government. Now more than 80 percent of students here are domestic helps, without them the school would just be empty," he explained.

source: republica,21 Dec 2011