Education

There is an elementary school here on campus,

where I have the privilege of teaching English grammar and composition to some pretty amazing children! 

Formal schooling is relatively new and still continuing to develop in Nepal.  Modern education just started in the mid-1800s, but was only available to the ruling elite.  Around the turn of the century, the prime minister at the time called for sweeping education reforms and started some schools.  This was so unpopular that he was soon deposed.  However, his schools remained open and some new schools were established.

After World War II, the returning Gurkha soldiers, after learning to read and write in the British army, and noting the average literacy rate was about 5% (10% for males and 1% or less for females), raised awareness for the need of education and were a great influence in starting public respect for schools.  Some even started their own schools in their villages.  This, coupled with a revolution around the same time, dramatically expanded the school system.  In the 1970s, primary school became compulsory and free, however there are no truant officers, if you know what I mean.  Children are needed to work at home and in the fields, and literacy still hovers around 50%, give or take (whichever source you check).  This is a great advancement, considering that in the 1981 census, about 24% of the population was literate, with more males than females being literate.  (Urban areas have a higher literacy rate than rural areas, and all areas have more males than females literate.)

However, each year, the education system here continues to grow and this is good news indeed.  "Education for All" has become a national slogan.  Here's a sign on a building promoting education:

Most children walk to school (as noted in the previous post) and I enjoy watching them as they do so.

Sometimes they walk through the mud instead of around it (children are children everywhere)

or enjoy watching the animals out and about (monkey in this case)

or stop to buy something to snack on.

The sad part happens when I see children who aren't in school.  (The following pictures were taken on school days during school hours--and these kids aren't in school.)

Here's a child helping a family member wash something at an outdoor water faucet

(during school hours).

Here's a little girl helping take care of her little brother.

I like to suppose that she normally goes to school, but was just unable to go that

day because she had to take care of her little brother just for that day.

Many times I see kids who (hopefully) went to primary school, 

but are obviously working instead of going to middle school, which is not required.

This boy helped change our van's flat tire.  He was very fast, efficient, and strong.

This boy is collecting fares on a bus (almost all buses have such a boy,

 although they are all not so young).

But here, on the same day, is a wonderful, wonderful sight:   some young people going into their high school.  We wish them all the best in their future endeavors!

To be continued...