Risky Business
Another reproduction of a short story I wrote as a student in Nepal-- this one as a 9th grader. I happen to have a copy of it because I still own a copy of the issue of the school magazine in which it was published!
My Work for the Giant
Reproduction of a story I wrote as maybe a 7th grader in an on-the-spot short-story writing contest. I reproduce it here because the story won first prize!
Data: Nepal’s Education System Fails and Punishes Most Students
In 2009-10, when data for 2011 Census Report was collected, children in the last year of kindergarten, five-year olds, numbered 661K. The group completed their schooling -- grade 12 -- in 2022. Less than 10% made it through!
This blog looks how the totally corrupt and flawed education system does that and the consequence of that for a vast majority of the population.
How screwed up is the education system in Nepal?
Nepali education system is so screwed up, schooling does NOT prepare you adequately for externally assessed terminal examinations. Furthermore, each stage of schooling does NOT prepare you for the stage that follow either. Instead, it requires that you get outside help to prepare yourself and continue your academic career!
What's the point of such an education system?!
Education Must Teach About Being Human and to Value Humanity the Most
When it comes to identity, most formal and informal education system around the world focus on and elevate the person's nationality, religion, class, sex/gender, official position/profession, age, race, caste, sexuality etc. What is most important, however, is to teach a person to think of themself as a human being first and to value humanity above all.
When Perceived Success of Education is Actually EVIDENCE of Failure
If, as an adult, you are CONVINCED that your academic institution SUCCEEDED in providing an excellent education, BUT has made you an ardent and blind supporter of the institution -- approving of everything it says, does, represents, and stands for unquestioningly -- then it failed you. Here are some examples of that from Nepal.
The Science of Sex
One of the many consequences of low science literacy and high level of religiosity and the attendant belief in superstitions in the highly patriarchal Brahmanic society of Nepal is unabashed cruelty to females. One way the cruelty is meted out is in the way they are blamed for a newborn's sex as it that were determined by gestation and birthing. Science says otherwise, of course!
Nepali Teachers Need to Loosen Up And Use Humor in Their Classrooms
Nepali teachers do NOT use humor as much as they should. I do. And so in my workshops for them, I use it to demonstrate its effectiveness. Follow link for short videos of me in action -- telling jokes and making teachers and students laugh, to grab their attention and hold it.
For the Love of Words
Among other things, North-American teachers at St. Xavier's induced in me a love for words by teaching us the etymology of words during lessons. I am trying to do the same for Nepalis by offering online classes on words and their meanings.
As Much as We are Products of Our Culture, Education, Society etc. We are Also Their Shapers
As much as we are products of our culture, education, society, and people, and as much as a closed and inward-looking society and people might fail us, as individuals we are also influencers and shapers of our culture and society!
When it comes to verbal, emotional, and physical violence against children is concerned, for example, we Nepalis have a choice. We don't have to follow the dictates of our culture and society. We can instead teach about empathy and compassion and even display them towards our children to end the vicious cycle of childhood violence, a hallmark of child-rearing and educational practices.