I started to go to school when I was three years old and till 25 years I was studying. So all my life the maximum time I spent is on my education. The education system in Nepal is theory based with no or very little practical classes depending on the college or university you choose. The practical exposure is almost nil in government run universities and they are mostly closed due to the strikes carried on by Student politicians affiliated to different political parties. Most of the time they lock up the college gate, or burn the classrooms if their demands are not met or if they don't know the answers in the exam and if one party is satisfied another party comes up with some other demand and the culture of strike continues. The education system doesn’t enhance any capacity of the students to market them for their job except for holding a certain degree.
The education system doesn’t enhance any capacity of the students to market them for their job except for holding a certain degree.
In a patriarchal society as a boy when you reach certain age and are still unemployed then you are pressurized by the family and society to earn. If you don't they taunt you and make you feel inferior so boys join these parties to form a powerful association and also take them as a gateway to find a job after your education are over. And when you belong to the party people are afraid of you. But it doesn’t apply to women because they are not expected to earn but be a beautifully decorated wife after her education is over. Since her childhood she has been told that for her to be educated is to get an educated man and her life will be full of happiness. Thus, for a boy education is something that he will use to earn and run his family and for a girl, education is to be married to an educated boy. So, in Nepali Society the definition of education differs if you are a boy or a girl.
Though the trend is changing now and many women are the part of the workforce, this change has not just emerged because of the women empowerment programs run in the country but because of the shift in economic and societal structure. Now Nepal is moving from communal society to individual society and also with the income of one person, the happily ever after dream is not going to be fulfilled, which is also why women have joined the workforce. But men still continue to get associated with the student political parties because with reservations to women and some ethnic groups it has been even more difficult to get jobs for them. The unemployment problem might pose a serious threat on the country's newly restored peace. No one will let their daughter marry the unemployed man which will affect the psychology and biology of the men as pre-marital sex is a taboo. This psychological disturbance will increase the cases sexual abuse and men will get associated with criminal activities as through barrel of gun they will get whatever they want.
Though we all can't deny the fact that education and educational institutions are important to us we also can't deny that the importance of education varies at individual level and the state and its policies has a bigger hand in shaping how to use these intellectuals for the betterment of the state.