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Over fourty thousand schools are on strike in Nepal

By Janak Pathak

Kathmandu/December 8^th- Since the so-called democratic criminal government of Nepal danced under the signal of World bank, IMF, USA and EU and took off most of the subsidies from the education, health sectors, the public life came on difficulties. Specially the different governments since 1990 got popularity by using the slogan that they are providing free education up to 10^th class. But in practice they never implement instead the quality of education degraded. The public schools charged grossly higher amount of fees at the time of admission in different headings which forced the poor students to leave the school. According to the statistic only the 70% of children can admit to the primary school but only 53% are able to continue the primary education. The drop rate in middle and secondary school is very high because of the costly educational policy and the policy of privatisation of education.

Even who can afford the admission to school in spite of their custodial situation they are forced to stop or suffered from the barrier system of education. For instances the compulsory Sanskrit, barrier examination system etc.

Since long time, the responsible students' organisations demanded for scientific, reachable of normal people and facilitative education system but the government always adopted the education policy to produce the agents for foreign sell and education of private appreciation of king, royal family, feudal and compradors. Even this is dream for the majority of the people. Almost 50% of the population is under 18 years, among them almost 70% could not continue secondary education. So, how the government policy is oriented to keep children out of their achieve. To cut the educational expense, subsidies in agriculture-a backbone of country's livelihood, health facilities and to increase the fair in electricity, water, telephone, health services, the World Bank and IMF always forwarded their conditions. Which now the people of Nepal clearly saw the interest of the imperialists/expansionist powers and came to fight them.

The most organised and bigger student organisation of Nepal, All Nepal National Independent Student Union (Revolutionary) ANNISU(R) was launching the struggle for their rights since long-time alone and together with other student organisations. But the government always not only neglected the demands but sharpen its policy to create difficulties. ANNISU(R) submitted 15 demands and give ultimatum to fulfil in fifteen days but the government tried to arrest the students workers and detained them, some of those whereabouts is still unknown and mobilise police force to stop the activities of the organisation. In spite of the mobilisation of police nation-wide the ANNISU(R) carried out its actions. Specially those managements and the headmasters who have received illegal fees were requested to refund. Who denied and asked the police forces for their security and against the students were punished publicly.

The actions to bring them among the guardians and student masses to promise for refund, several time sit and stand up in front of masses with promise not to continue the anti- people activities, like corruption, police spying, charging of illegal fees and sexual harassment of the school girls etc. These actions are getting popularity within the students and masses. The union has called for a week-long nation-wide closure of all public and private schools starting December 8 putting forward its 15-point demand, which includes protest against privatisation of education, high price of education and "incursion of foreign agencies" in the education system of Nepal. According to the receive message Kathmandu and around the country all the schools are closed. It is the first time only a student organisation called strike completely successful. The other organisations also supported the called strike. According to the source about 30,000 public schools and around 10,000 private schools are closed completely today and would closed for whole week. There are about 6 million students are studying in those schools. It is a first time the private schools were influenced by the strike called only in educational institutions.

The well popular demands including the cancellation of compulsory Sanskrit education, stop the singing of so-called National anthem and turning the private, boarding schools into government schools and against the police intervention in schools and universities. If the government would not fulfil the just demands of students the Universities, campuses also would join in the movement. The teachers are already series of protests for their demands including the issues raised by ANNISU(R). The parents of the students also supporting strongly the struggle, later there is possibilities to come out on the street also.

The free education is the announced by the Nepali congress government and strongly forwarded by the following governments but now the pressure form the foreign aid groups make difficulties to follow their promises. According to observers the donors threatened the government not to provide easy and cheap and scientific education, otherwise they will stop to sponsor the government. Because of this pressure the education minister spoke in spite of the free education it was not applied practically from the school administration, so they can not provide free education for the poor country's poor people. It shows the whole reactionaries of the World are against the poor and genuine people of Nepal which belongs to more than 80% of the population.

The success of the strike called by ANNISU(R) shows the strong hold of the organisation. ANNISU(R) morally supports the people's war and believe the problems of the students will not be solved until the new democratic revolution not success.