By ND Lama, Merodesh Academy for Better Nepal

Introduction

In a vibrant jungle, a harmonious community of animals thrived together. Monkeys, Elephants, Eagles, Fish, and others—each representing the diverse linguistic and cultural groups of Nepal—lived in peace and prosperity. Every species contributed uniquely to their shared home, celebrating their different abilities without undue competition.

This story mirrors the current challenges in Nepal’s education system and highlights the urgent need to embrace a more holistic and inclusive approach to education.

The Tree-Climbing Competition: A Metaphor for Standardized Testing

One day, the leader of the Monkeys decided to improve society by introducing a tree-climbing competition. This competition symbolizes the standardized tests in Nepal, such as the SEE exams and Grade 12 exams. Initially, only monkeys participated since climbing trees was their natural skill.

Over time, however, Elephants, Eagles, and Fish were pressured to join the competition. The jungle’s atmosphere transformed into a pressure cooker environment filled with stress and anxiety. The animals began to overvalue the tree-climbing competition and the certificates awarded to the winners—much like the excessive focus on exam results in Nepal’s education system.

The Loss of Harmony and Diversity

As a result of the competition:

• Tunnel Vision Developed: The animals focused solely on obtaining tree-climbing certificates, forgetting the richness of their diverse talents—akin to having a mole’s limited vision.
• Neglect of Unique Abilities: Elephants struggled with climbing instead of using their strength and wisdom; Eagles focused on trees rather than soaring in the skies; Fish attempted the impossible task of climbing, neglecting their role in the rivers.
• Obsession with Grades: Their minds became fixated on scores, similar to an egret that thinks only about catching worms, symbolizing an obsession with high GPAs.

The community’s prior harmony diminished as stress and competition replaced collaboration and mutual respect.

A Call to Action: Restoring Balance in Education

Recognizing the disharmony, it’s time to break free from this pressure cooker environment and restore balance in Nepal’s education system.

1. Correcting Tunnel Vision and Egret Thinking

• Broadening Perspectives: Encourage everyone to see beyond test scores and certificates.
• Valuing Diverse Abilities: Acknowledge and appreciate the unique talents each student possesses.

2. Empowering Teachers and Educational Institutions

• Autonomy in Evaluation: Allow teachers to assess students based on a broader set of criteria, not just standardized tests.
• Freedom from Politics: Remove political interference in education to focus on genuine learning.

Recommendations for Government

• Reform the NEB Exam System:
  • Provide Alternatives: Allow institutions to choose different assessment paths, giving schools the freedom to adopt methods that best suit their students.
  • Modernize Testing: Develop computerized tests available multiple times a year, reducing pressure on students and teachers. Establish testing centers throughout the country to make access easier and more flexible.
  • Encourage Competition to Foster Improvement:
    • Introduce Alternative Testing Entities: Permit private or more efficient organizations to offer standardized tests alongside NEB. This competition can drive innovation and quality improvements in the examination system.
    • Learn from the Telecom Industry: Just as Ncell’s entry into Nepal’s telecommunications market challenged the state-owned Nepal Telecom (NTC), leading to significant improvements and progress, introducing competition in the education assessment sector can motivate NEB to enhance its services.
• Decentralize Education Governance:
  • Shift Authority to Local Levels: Decentralize education management from the central government to district and palika (municipality) levels. This allows for more responsive and context-specific educational policies and practices that cater to local needs.
  • Empower Local Communities: By giving more control to local authorities, schools can adapt curricula and teaching methods to better reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of their communities, promoting inclusivity and relevance.
  • Improve Accountability and Efficiency: Decentralization can lead to better accountability as local stakeholders have a direct interest in the quality of education, and decisions can be made more efficiently without bureaucratic delays from the central government.

Recommendations for Educators and Schools

• Focus on Holistic Development:
  • Teach critical thinking, human values, and practical skills.
  • Advocate for the right to evaluate students in ways that reflect their unique abilities.

Recommendations for Parents

• Consider Alternative Paths:
  • Explore options like homeschooling or alternative education that cater to your child’s strengths.
  • Embrace Individual Growth: Encourage children to pursue their passions, enabling them to thrive like hunting eagles rather than caged parrots.
• Learn from Innovators:
  • Recognize that leaders like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk succeeded by following unconventional paths, not by conforming to standardized measures.

Recommendations for Students

• Embrace Your Unique Talents:
  • Understand that you are like hunting tigers, not vultures waiting for dead opportunities.
  • Dream Big: Use technology and resources to learn and achieve beyond traditional methods.
  • Don’t let exam grades discourage you; your potential is vast.

Conclusion

By moving away from the overemphasis on standardized testing and embracing a more holistic approach to education, Nepal can restore harmony and build a brighter future.

• Embrace Diversity: Value the unique talents of each student.
• Foster Creativity: Encourage innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Build Harmony: Create an educational environment where everyone can thrive.