Mgmt teams pledge reform in community schools

By Lalit Basel,Surkhet, Sept. 8: Community School Management Committees in Karnali province have moved a step ahead in improving the quality of education with the endorsement of a 14-point Surkhet Declaration. 

A provincial-level seminar organised by the Federation of Community School Management Committees (FCSMC) in Surkhet on Friday and Saturday expressed its commitment to the reforms in education in community schools through the declaration. 

The seminar was attended by office-bearers of school management committees from various schools in Karnali, headteachers, education experts, government representatives and development partners.

The declaration states that as education is the fundamental right of every child, it must ensure inclusive, equitable, safe and quality learning. It maintained that all levels of government, teachers, parents and communities must unite to improve community schools. Since the Karnali Province Government has already included the national campaign ‘We Will Improve Our Schools’ initiated by the FCSMC Nepal in its policies and programmes, the declaration calls for its effective implementation in all districts and local levels of the province.

It also pledges to enroll all children of early childhood age groups in development centres, ensure the availability of necessary educational materials and resources, and conduct daily activities according to the curriculum. 

Likewise, disabled children outside the schools are to be enrolled and given continued access to learning. “For those unable to attend school due to disability, arrangements will be made in collaboration with local governments for home-based schooling. A girls’ and gender-inclusive network will also be established, alongside the development and implementation of a grievance-handling mechanism,” read the declaration. 

The declaration also commits to improving physical infrastructure to create child-friendly, disability-friendly, environmentally-friendly and safe school environment, enabling children to learn in a secure, fear-free setting.

Furthermore, to foster continuity of learning and home-based study habits, and to increase parental involvement, it proposes setting up a ‘learning corner’ in every home and implementing the home–school concept with the provision of home tutors.

The declaration also includes various commitments to enhance teachers’ capacity at the educational, technological and professional fronts.

“A teacher professional development plan will be prepared to provide training, guidance and technical support for continuous professional growth. Teachers will be made accountable for student learning by enforcing performance contracts, with incentive and recognition schemes for those delivering outstanding results,” read the declaration. 

It also pledges to promote peer learning, experience sharing and study visits among teachers, develop ICT skills, and establish digital community networks for learning

Other commitments include preparing participatory school improvement plans, developing and implementing local curricula that promote local occupations, businesses, technology, culture and traditions, and making schools respectful, participatory, fair and free from discrimination. 

It also calls for ensuring the strong role of communities, parents and school management committees in the new school education law. 

Speaking at the seminar, Minister for Social Development of Karnali, Ghanshyam Bhandari, acknowledged that despite investments, expected results had not yet been achieved, and that work was still being carried out with limited resources. 

Govinda Koirala, Chair of the Federation’s Karnali Chapter, said that the provincial seminar had brought forward significant plans for improving the quality of community schools.