Himali Lower Secondary School is one such school in Bajura. The school had taken Rs 200,000 loan for 'teachers' salary'. The parents, who basically belong to lower economic class, have been forced to pay Rs 1000 annually to cover for the loan and the interest. Earlier, these locals had denied paying the fees. However, considering that the school was struggling to operate, they agreed to pay the amount.District Education Office (DEO) has upgraded the school till class five. However, the school is allowed to run till eighth grade with its own resources. But the school established in 1978 has failed to receive sufficient teachers' quota even for the lower level classes.
Officials at the DEO state that the problem begun after the government allowed schools to run with their own resources. This permission has hindered the DEO in ensuring uniformity in schools financial condition.
This school has 336 students and three permanent teachers who get government salary. Two other teachers are funded by the relief quota while four are financed through the school's own resources. The schools source of income is limited to some amount provided by VDC under different heads, charity by locals and whatever amount is collected during Deusi and Bhailo performance in the festival of Tihar.
"We sought permission for higher classes. That was important for students. However, now we are struggling to keep it going," said Rupa Bam, the school's principal. "We need to pay for four teachers and we don't have financial support from anywhere to keep it going. It's very difficult to carry on, the teachers have not been paid for the last 6 months," she added.
According to Bam, the VDC helps the school under different heads. Every year, it provides around Rs 180,000 to 200,000. "Since the last few years, VDC has been providing the school financial assistance. This is spent by the school to pay teachers salary," she informed.
The school had taken Rs 200,000 loan from a local Dhan Lal Rawat two years ago with an agreement that the amount would be paid within a year. However, as the school has not been able to payback the debt, it has been forced to continue paying the interest. On the other hand, parents who have been asked to help the school with Rs 1000 annually are not happy to do so.
Requesting anonymity, a parent said that educating a kid is not just the matter of fee, but it turns expensive due to several other things such as stationeries, dresses and so on. "It feels like a huge burden when we also have to pay at the school under different headings. Government says, it's free education but it's not free," he said.
Meanwhile, a teacher at the school, Surendra Nath said that he has been not able perform to his full potential as he gets salary once a year. Nath added that he had tried to leave the job but has been continuing upon request from the school administration. "The government does not add teacher quota or provides finances to teachers that the school has hired. And the school cannot pay teachers like us," he said adding that the government should respond to school's need.
DEO officials say that the government cannot pay for all the teachers hired by schools while admitting that the government has not provided sufficient teachers' quota in community schools. "There's problem we know, but the government cannot take that much of burden," said a school inspector in the district Bibi Raj Soti.
There are 269 community schools in the districts and most of them have the same story. They are indebted in loan and are struggling for survival. And only few have proper classrooms, toilets and drinking water facilities and have ensured timely salary to teachers and staffs.
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