These are troubled times in Nepal these days — as the recently elected Maoist government moves to in-effect phase out private schools within two years, reports Christian Science Monitor correspondent Bikash Sangraula:
The massive election win last April by Nepal’s former rebel Maoists put them in the position to set the government agenda, and bring about drastic changes they promised during their campaign.
But their initial proposals on education – to end private investment in schools and distribute academic certificates to Maoist fighters – have left many Nepalese worried.
They’re concerned that their new government will take the country in too radical a direction that favors its former fighters and Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideology.
“Recent statements by Maoist leaders are indicative of their political immaturity,” says Krishna Khanal, a political scientist at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. “They have made strange announcements to please their cadres and fighters.”
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) wields considerable legislative power to advance its policies. The group, which fought a 10-year insurgency from 1996 demanding a new constitution and an end to monarchy, is the largest party in Nepal’s 601-member special assembly. With 220 seats, it has twice the representation of the second biggest party, the centrist Nepali Congress.
This isn’t the first dramatic move by the Maoists. In the wake of ending the 240-year old monarchy, the Maoists are getting ready to remove statues of former kings. Still, some things keep Nepal’s world image intact — such as the reappearance of Nepal’s famous teen “Buddha Boy,” and the response of thousands of his followers as he prepares to give weekly lessons — then vanish into the jungle to meditate.
There are still centrists to resist Maoist influence…but the question is: can they?
The government also has few moderates who might push back against a radical agenda. The Maoists’ biggest alliance partner is the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), third largest in the assembly, which also has radical roots and a history of armed violence.
The controversial announcement[about private schools] came Nov. 6, when Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai declared the government would end private investment in education by 2010. Private investors, he added, should limit themselves to investing in universities.
The Maoists have long opposed private investment in primary and secondary schooling, arguing that it produces an unequal workforce – those coming from private schools have an edge over their peers from public schools, they claim.
Meanwhile, India continues to cooperate with its neighbors: Indian power will light some Nepalese homes starting December 1.
Web photo of schoolroom in Nepal.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.