People generally prefer private schools to public ones. But this does not apply to one public school in Bhojpur. The Janasewa Basic School at Bhojpur Municipality-7 is these days drawing more students compared to rival private schools in the vicinity.
Wanting their children to learn English, parents often send them to private schools that supposedly teach them ‘better in English medium’. Many private schools even advertise themselves as ‘English only’ zones. As the public schools don’t place such emphasis on teaching English, parents tend to shun them, and these schools are often neglected. The quality of education on offer is thus generally poor. Parents are willing to pay much more to private schools.
In the case of Janasewa though parents are enrolling their children in the school even by withdrawing them from private schools. This year, 52 new students were enrolled. The school is being developed as the district’s model government school. It uses teaching style and curriculum that are similar to those of private schools. Better exam results also naturally attract parents and guardians.
“They teach the same way boarding [private] schools teach. They use English medium. Results are good too,” says Tulasi Poudel, a parent. “It saves us from the high cost of boarding [private] schools.”
“Low-income people like us would be greatly relieved if all public schools had such good standards,” he adds. “We could then give English education to our children, and they would excel in studies.”
Apart from English medium, other important features of this school are: regular classes, good discipline, regularity of teachers and students, focus on classroom activities, and teacher-student engagement. Parents say the school offers them quality education at minimal cost.
Many public schools in the district were merged or closed down in recent years due to their poor teacher quality and their inability to attract good students. Not Janasewa; even relatively better-off parents send their wards here. As per school records, its alumni have done well in higher studies too.
“Although it is a public school, we offer the standard of private schools. We also offer scholarships and boarding facilities,” says teacher Sikshika Shrestha. “Our students are disciplined and both our teachers and students value the importance of time and learning.”
According to Headmaster Thir Bahadur Shrestha, teachers in other public schools are often more involved in politics rather on teaching. “This is why the quality of education in public schools is in a decline. These teachers are better qualified and better trained than their private school counterparts. The problem is that they don’t like working.”
The district has 341 basic and 69 secondary-level public schools where 61,240 students are enrolled. Among other things, lack of designated subject teachers and teachers’ frequent absence ail most.
