Lack of school compelling students to leave their loved ones

Published On: November 20, 2018 04:30 AM NPT By: Sarita Shrestha

The students of Banskharka Basic School of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality

DHADING, Nov 19: Shuvamaya Tamang of Benighat Rural Municipality-1, Jarung, has six children but only one stays with her. One of her sons is abroad while others are in Kathmandu for their studies and jobs.

Some are preparing for the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) while others are gearing up for pursuing their higher studies. Staying away from their families is not a choice but a compulsion for the youths of Jarung. There is only one school in the village where students can study up to the fifth grade.

Simtar Boarding School of Jarung only runs classes till grade five. In order to complete their primary level education, students have to reach Banskharka Basic School (BBS) by walking hours through the difficult routes of jungle. This is the reason most prefer going to Kathmandu for their education.

"Our children can only study up to grade five here. Therefore, they go to Malekhu, Gajuri or Kathmandu for further education. Some even go to foreign countries with the objective of studying and working," said Tamang. Difficult access to schools and colleges has compelled many children to quit drop their studies midway.

Very few people in this village have accomplished higher education. Tamang said that the number of elderly people exceed the number of youths in Jarung.

Geographical difficulties, weak financial condition and lack of awareness have been the factors behind the backwardness of the village. People here lack employment opportunities; fortunately, they all have small pieces of land where they grow crops for a living. Drinking water is another problem here. Besides, there are no health posts or hospital nearby.

Those who choose to go to other villages for secondary level education cannot attend their classes regularly due to the long distance. "It almost takes two and a half hours for us to reach BBS. As BBS runs classes up to the fifth grade only, we will have to find another school when we pass grade five," said Soniya Tamang, a student, adding, "Most parents don't allow their daughters to go to the cities for studies. This is why we have to leave our studies."

After waking up early in the morning, children start helping their parents in the household works and then go to school. After spending the day in the school, they return home and again get engaged in household chores. They hardly have any time for assignments or studies.