SLC Exam Result: Grading or Degrading

The School Leaving Certificate (SLC) is the final examination in the secondary school system of Nepal which is equivalent to the General Certificate of Education (GCE), the academic qualification in United Kingdom. SLC examination, popularly known as “Iron Gate” is taken annually to make students eligible for obtaining higher education or to join colleges and universities.

Despite several initiatives by the government, including the School Sector Reform Program, the number of students passing the exam has continued to decline. This clarifies that the quality of education has degraded so far. According to the SLC result statistics of 2070 B.S., total passed students were 43.92% in regular whereas in 2069 B.S. only 41.57% students were passed. Although the percentage of passed students rises up, nearly two-third students have not been succeeded which was a shameful consequence.

Few days earlier, Government of Nepal decided to introduce a grading system while publishing SLC results. This system has been prepared by Curriculum Development Center (CDC) and was officially passed by National Curriculum Development and Evaluation Council that functions under the Ministry of Education. This is a step adopted by the government to improve the secondary level exam evaluation process but how can one be sure that this system will improve the quality of education? What will the large number of passed students do if government fails to generate employment opportunities for them? What will be the situation of Nepal if government produces large number of “unemployed intellectuals”?

No any academic institution, private or community based neither the government nor the Ministry of Education (MoE), has any serious planning to bring improved quality education rather than aiming to have increased number of students in SLC result. Time and again, the major concern of the government is on the quantity -how many students were passed and how many were failed-instead of quality.

Now, it is the time to improve the educational standard especially SLC results of our country. If all of us -government, educational institutions, teachers, guardians, students and all concerned authorities -will dedicate to improve the quality of education in our country, it will take no long time to change but if we put our big eyes on spending foreign aid only then it will be just the waste of time, money and resources.

Every year, the government and the private sector have pumped a huge amount of money on education. The budget that the government allocates to the sector has more than doubled in the last five years—from Rs 27 billion in 2006-07 to Rs 63.91 billion in 2012-13. However, till now, the expectation has not been fulfilled. Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat allocated Rs. 86.03 billion for the development of entire education sector in the upcoming fiscal year 2071-72 B.S. (2014-15 A.D.) but the passiveness of government made us doubtful. Following the harsh criticism on government’s failure to improve school education, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is going to introduce the grading system from the coming year. The Ministry of Education need to answer few crucial questions before implementing this system –Will this system make Nepali students competent in the international level? Does this attempt really help to improve educational standard of our country?

No doubt, grading system is a good system of evaluation which helps lessen the number of failed students. Probably, after implementing this system the suicidal attempts by students every year will also get diminished. The core concern while implementing grading system should be on both quality and quantity. With the rise in number of passed students, the standard of education should also rise. If the situation is contrary, this system will function only as an “effigy” of popular advertisement of improving educational standard.

Education experts have pointed out the politicization in teaching profession as the main reason behind the fall in SLC results. Irregularity of teachers as well as students in the classroom, lack of infrastructure, inadequate educational materials, etc. are also the causes behind the decline in the SLC results. All the concerned authorities should think about the agenda of education which will affect in nation development.

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Writing: a Problem for Students

            Many students, when they begin to write, feel that their hands get paralyzed even if they have ideas and knowledge regarding the issue they wanted to write. Writing, itself isn’t a problematic task but no practice of writing descends one’s own self confidence due to which the tip of pen moves nowhere. Ignoring or neglecting writing tasks provided by teachers is one of the major problems that affects negatively in writing. More importantly, the teachers are also helpless to take any action against such students because of their limitations and there is no such rule or law of punishment­­­­- what type of punishment and how much punishment should be given- against such activities of students.

The problem of writing is a genuine problem encountered by students especially in developing countries like Nepal. Not able to write something what they know is the first problem and the next problem in writing is- even some students do write, their writing contains many errors and mistakes like grammatical mistakes, errors of punctuation,  using inappropriate vocabulary, lack of unity and coherence of the sentences, arguments running out of the major issue, plagiarism and much more. Such problems make writing unworthy, insignificant and ridiculous. Unfortunately, students of higher level fail to produce scholarly writings and can’t able to compete in the international level too.

Regarding the issue of writing, not a single person or institution is blamed rather the whole educational system is responsible for it. The curriculum prescribed for students from lower level is only concerned on providing information and knowledge but such curriculum do not motivate the students for writing rather it provides general information regarding the text prescribed. For instance, In Social Studies, prescribed by the Curriculum Development Centre, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur- students are expected to understand about social periphery, social changes, social structure, social personalities, social rituals, etc but they are not able to go back to their own society and make research, do findings about one’s own social culture, norms, values, structure and so on.

Furthermore, problems in writing existed due to students’ own nature. As compared to western (European) students, eastern (Asian) students, particularly Nepali students, do not have access to the Internet, library and so on. Whatever is accessible- text books- students hesitate to turn the pages and read it between the lines.  Instead of this, students are fond of reading cheap guess papers, guides, solutions and pass the examination. For Nepali students, passing final examination is a goal instead of acquiring quality education. Here, in this point, government too seems responsible. Government does not have laws against publishing cheap guess papers and solutions due to which students are distracted from their real motto.

In the same way, parents are also unaware of their children’s education. This doesn’t mean parents do not care about their children’s education rather they are not conscious about how the child is growing up? What type of education is s/he acquiring? How relevant and useful sources of education s/he possesses? It is happening, i.e., parents unknown about their children’s quality of education because most of them are from rural or semi-urban areas; most of them are illiterate and under the line of poverty.

Writing, as a problem exists not only in our country; it is the international academic problem. For instance, during the 1890s, writing course was introduced at Harvard University but its outcome shocked the whole university because most of the students were found incompetent in writing skill. In the case of grammar also, most students’ choices is driven not by considerations of what they want to say, and what they want to accomplish, but rather by a fear of committing errors. They consider “what would it be correct to say?” rather than “what would be most powerful or interesting or effective?” This is happening because students are taught to write. We did not focus on engaging themselves on writing instead of teaching writing.

Most of the people who bear old concepts and thoughts still say “One can’t hold his/her legs long by writing or reading.” Somehow, they are true in the case that, only through writing one can’t imagine to survive, through writing has not established, yet, as a profession especially in our country Nepal. On the other hand, writing is that strong tool which can bring changes in the society. For instance, Bhanubhakta wrote ‘Ramayana’ in Nepali language and taught moral lessons to the people. Laxmi Prasad Devkota wrote Muna-Madan to attack on caste system and also inspired us to reform our society with pride rather than humiliating ourselves in foreign land. Similarly, Amar Neupane wrote Seto Dharti to depict the child marriage existed in our society and to fight against such orthodox practices.

It is not the case that the writing is the end (everything) of life but it is writing, through which we can pave the way for better living. If we gaze upon world literature, we’ll notice that writing played a vital role in changing the society. For instance, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book Uncle Tom’s Cabin was the best-selling book of the 19^th century, following Bible. The impact attributed to the book is great, reinforced by a story that when Abraham Lincoln met Stowe at the start of Civil war, Lincoln declared”So, this is little lady who started this great war.” This book itself is an example of writing that affirms the role of ‘writing’ as an agent of social change. More importantly, writing can be a way to change our society, even our own identity to a new height.

In the field of ‘writing’, though many students commit errors or mistakes, we can improve it through various efforts. First, the curriculum should be design in such a way that students can engage themselves in writing activities. If students, themselves, engage in writing, gradually their errors, mistakes and weakness will be known to them which lead towards a qualitative writing. Second, from the government level, rules and regulations should be made in such a way that no single person, institution or printing press dare to publish cheap guess papers, guides and solutions without the prior permission of Ministry of Education. If the government comes forth with strict laws then, students will not depend on such filthy guide books rather they develop the habit of reading text books, preparing note books, maintaining home assessments which enhances their writing skill. Third, educational institutions can run workshops on developing writing skills, frequently. Through such workshops, students can analyze their writing, evaluate it, make corrections and accelerate their skill of writing. Fourth, with the support of government and family members, students should be made reachable to the sources of education like internet, libraries, films and documentaries, journals and research papers, etc. Access to education sources sharpen the mind of students which is exaggerated in their writing too. This leads them towards maturity in writing. Beside these, literacy programs should be run in rural areas too, which help the guardians able to understand the power of knowledge. If guardians are educated and aware of their children’s future, they will not force them just to pass the final examination rather they motivate them to acquire quality education which acts as a back support for writing.

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Technology: a thread of brotherhood or a threat to other hood

                            What is the purpose of technology? Well, we come up with equivalent replies: to make our life easier, better and convenient; to get easy access to better education and information sources; to enhance a person's access to different disciplines/sectors. Our lenses observe only the positive impact of technology but we are unaware of its other side. We are manipulated and drained of European progress and their market monopoly. However, we can't deny the fact that everything has two faces: positive and negative. Technology has made immense progress in modern era. Along with the progress, it has made adverse effect on human relationship. The impact of technology on our social, mental, physical and environmental can be devastating if we aren't aware of its effects. There's no denying the benefits we have gained from technological advancements, but as with all things in life moderation is the key. Being aware of the harmful aspects of the use of technology help us to avoid unnecessary pitfalls. Every scientific invention was made for positive change but not all scientific inventions left positive footprints. We human beings are also not purely true thinkers or purely false thinkers rather we are the hybrid ones. So, which aspect of our thinking is vibrant in our invention? Does the production helpful for humans? What usage of it makes our living horrible? -are the crucial issues we need to think and re-think when the issue of technology haunts us.

In the primitive age, people used to live together in a community even if they do not know about the concept of 'community'. They share each and everything they have got with them. The word ‘technology’ was not formed till then. They do hunting with the spikes and stones. Although we call that period as 'barbaric age', people of this modern age seem more barbaric in terms of human relationship. A sense of 'ourness' is rooted in everyone's heart in the ancient time. As the time passes by, the feeling of 'ourness' is substituted by the greed 'myness'. As we are getting more equipped and get access to the modern technology, we call ourselves modernized and civilized; we are creating a great fence in human relationship. We are more attracted towards technology- spikes are substituted by guns, stones are substituted by atoms, pigeons are substituted by emails and video calls. Thus, human felling and emotion is, now, narrowed down by modern technology.

With the invention of fire, human civilization got a twist with new changes and new development. Physical appearance of ‘nakedness’ gradually substituted by 'clothing'. People then stopped eating raw food because the cooked food tastes sweet. Slowly and gradually people started consuming different products that are needed in our daily life like cooking utensils, burners, candles, clothes and more. With these imported things, culture too gets imported with them and we get hybridized by culture, technology and even on human relationship. 

In the present context, recent innovations and modern technologies, such as the Internet and mobile phones, have changed the way people communicate, work and live. First of all, contacts between people and colleagues have been facilitated by communication software like emails. Additionally, social networks such as twitter and Facebook have eliminated the distance between people and have led ever shy people to become more socially accepted in this virtual world. However, there are some hazards involved in using such advanced technology. Firstly, people tend to spend more time staying at home and sitting in front of a computer screen rather than going outside to visit friends. In other words, people end up being distant. All this development will not strengthen family bonds if everyone sits in front of a computer. Finally fake relationships, deceptions and crimes manifest themselves which will affect social safety and social relationships. 

In one sense, the planet has never been more interconnected. And yet, this interconnectedness, while wonderful, hasn't come without cost. With modern technological system comes up new problems. From pornography to merely surfing the web, the Internet is clearly the television of the 21st century, an electronic drug that often yanks us away from the physical world (Healy). We may enjoy online relationships using social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, for example, but the difference between these kinds of interactions and interactions with people in the physical world is clearly vast. The problem, however, comes when we find ourselves subtly substituting electronic relationships for physical ones or mistaking our electronic relationships for physical ones. We may feel we're connecting effectively with others via the Internet, but too much electronic-relating paradoxically engenders a sense of social isolation.

According to New York Times published in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in a study of 2004, 16% of children (over 9 million) that are between the ages of 6-19 years are overweight or obese (Stone). This data shows that the children are obese by three times than that of 1980s, mostly due to the usage of modern technology. Being overweight can bring great health concerns. Not only children but adults are also affected by the immense usage of modern technology. Many of them suffer from physical problems like diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, high cholesterol or blood pressure. Also, according to Standard University of Medicine study, elementary students consume 20% of their daily calorie intake while watching television, which usually includes unhealthy snacks and junk food (Williams). In the modern context, same is the case for all level of people. Because of urbanization, no land is left for cultivation and because of busy schedule of people; they don't have enough time to spare in the kitchen. So, they prefer fast food which is not good for health. Unhealthy people can't have good relation with other people because they can't go for outing with others, crack a joke and share one’s own emotion and feelings.

With the invention of telephone, television, fax, computer and other technological items, people became more and more materialistic. Using these devices people restrict themselves inside the four corners of a room. People are limited inside a certain periphery in the name of being technological advancement. The real feelings that make human a human- happy, sad, disgust, anger, frustrate, etc - are lost, being out of touch. People in modern era, knowingly or unknowingly are enslaved by several technologies. In ancient age, people recite the verses, read several times information and memorize it. People of the then time believe on themselves, their own capacity. Modern people, instead of turning the real pages of a text, turn on the computer and Google the information they seek. In this respect, person's relationship with next person while doing discussion, asking some information, debating in certain issue has been overtaken by internet, computer and other modern technologies.

We are in the era of "Globalization". Globalization made this whole globe a village. People can easily reach from one place to another place of the world in few seconds; can communicate with person from next territory sitting inside a closed room. Although people limited the entire globe, relationships in the fingertips, people can't fence their emotions, true human bonding and the five senses. In one way or other, entire universe is suffering from a chronic illness, which everyone calls "Globalization". It is an illness which connects people of every nook and corner of the globe, without human sensibility. Human sensation lacks in virtual world, the modern technologies are responsible for degrading human relationships. The humans remain as a skeleton without any emotional tie. People are no more different than a dummy that a shopkeeper keeps in a fancy shop.

Technologies not only influence the single aspect rather each and every part of human life. Technologies influence our typical culture, lifestyle, music, religion, education, and so on. Technology impacts how cities grow, where people live, and who owns what. Technologies are the reason a few people are very rich, that people are more social, and that teaching and learning is changing. The Internet and mobile technology are changing the way people interact, work, and learn. Everyone can report the news or share a picture from their cell phone. We can produce our own music, publish our own books and talk on our cell phone whenever and wherever we want. We are using technology for our own use yet it infringes on others.

Many people are involved in an abundant number of relationships through technology, but sometimes the quantity of these associations leaves people feeling qualitatively empty. Obviously, technology has had a profound impact on what it means to be social. Society is likely on the cusp of a social revolution, during which it will be important to redefine socially appropriate and acceptable behaviors (with regard to digital or virtual interaction). We are at a point in history where very few people have given critical thought to new social realities created by technology and what those realities mean for the individual and society. In a society where people have become quite mobile and family and friends are often geographically separated, it is convenient to keep in touch through technology. However, one need not look far to find problems associated with social networking sites. There is a lively debate about whether Internet addictions are real. To me it appears to be a real problem (perception is often reality in a social context) with which people have to grapple. Some assert that these Web sites contributed to cheating on significant others, often leading to divorce. People have been fired from their jobs or put under pressure because they use these sites at work or because something is posted on a site that undermined the person’s professional standing.
        Narcissism-excessive interest in one’s appearance and in oneself-is sometimes manifested on social networking sites (Lewin). These Web sites have been found to be an avenue for people to display their narcissistic traits online. It is apparent that technology has the potential to harm or enhance your social skills and social life. The key is to analyze how technology affects you socially.With the rapid-changing world of electronics and technology, the turnover rate for upgrades is staggering. This constant stream of out with the old, in with the new is adding to the levels of toxicity in our air and land. E-waste is not always disposed of properly, causing deadly chemicals to leach into the ground (Hosale). Plants that manufacture the electronics are emitting toxic fumes into the air. Plus there is little to no regulations on the disposal of personal E-waste. Although individual devices are becoming more energy efficient, the increased overall use is causing a higher consumption of energy. People don’t turn their devices off; they keep computers on or plugged in, mobile devices charging and televisions plugged in. Also manufacturing all of these high tech toys causes an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

When we are focused on a device instead of what’s going on around us we miss a great deal. Think of the number of times you have been texting or talking to a friend and missed the opportunity to flirt with the hot guy standing beside you. There is also a rise in the number of injuries incurred by people texting while walking. The constant stream of violent scenes on video games, TV, movies and YouTube causes people to become desensitized to destruction of any kind (“Study Shows…”). The normalizing of bad things happening and the culture of narcissism created by social media creates a society of people who lack empathy. When people stop caring, the world goes to hell in a hand basket.

Despite the absence of physical contact or audible insults, cyber bullying can be even more traumatizing than traditional forms of bullying. The term "cyber bullying" refers to the use of Internet and/or mobile technology to harass, intimidate, or cause harm to another. Through social media and mobile communications, bullying can now potentially be viewed by all of a child's friends, family, and acquaintances. As a result, the embarrassment, shame, and other more severe consequences of bullying can become even more severe. Consider, for example, if a high school student takes an unflattering picture of a classmate and sends it to all of her friends (via mobile phone) with hurtful comments. Suddenly, the target student is being teased by more than half of her classmates. So instead of one instance of bullying, it often takes on a life of its own.
       Another danger zone of modern technology is degradation in human creativity. Researchers have discovered that we can become addicted to the Internet just like we can become addicted to nicotine (“Is Technology…”). Recent studies have validated the condition known as Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). Those with IAD can suffer tremors, shivers, nausea and anxiety. Other negative effects include lack of sleep and shortened attention spans. If we suffer from IAD then we are out of the circumference from human connections, interactions and discussions. We can't sustain our mutual relationship with others if we suffer from IAD.

  Little by little, Internet and mobile technology seems to be subtly destroying the meaningfulness of interactions we have with others, disconnecting us from the world around us, and leading to an imminent sense of isolation in today’s society. Technology has created a world where children are distant from the parental relationship. Instead of spending time in person with friends, we just call, text or instant message them. It may seem simpler, but we ultimately end up seeing our friends face to face a lot less. Ten texts can’t even begin to equal an hour spent chatting with a friend over lunch (“Childhood Obesity…”).There’s something intangibly real and valuable about talking with someone face to face. This is significant for friends, partners, potential employers, and other recurring people that make up your everyday world. That person becomes an important existing human connection, not just someone whose disembodied text voice pops up on your cell phone, iPad or computer screen.
     Technology has allowed us some means of social connection that would have never been possible before, and has allowed us to maintain long-distance friendships that would have otherwise probably fallen by the wayside. We can’t also deny the fact that technology is slowly ruining the quality of social interaction that we all need as human beings. As Edward Tenner sees “a revenge effect” in which our perverse technologies turn against us with consequences… (Healy). In 21^st century, technology offers convenience and development between our interactions; however, taking negative things in consideration, we must be more careful on real communication, emotional bonding and social human relationship.

Work Cited

“Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts.”  N.p., Jan. 2007. Web. 06 June 2014.

Healy, Tim. “The Unanticipated Consequences of Technology.” N.p., n.d., Web. 06 June 2014.

Hosale, Sheri. “25 Negative Effects of Technology.” N.p., 8 June 2013. Web. 6 June 2014.

“Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking And Analysis?” University of   California. 29 Jan. 2009. Web. 06 June 2014.

Lewin, Tamar. “If your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online.” N.p., 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 06 June 2014.

Stone, Brad. “The children of Cyberspace: Old Fogies by Their 20s.” 09 Jan. 2010. N.p., Web. 06 June 2014.

“Study Shows Kids Tethered to Technology” abcNEWS. 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 06 June 2014.

Williams, Shawna. “Kids eat hefty number of calories while watching TV.” Stanford Report. 7 July 2004. Web. 06 June 2014.

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Evolutionary History of CLF

                “Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no else has ever thought”­-says Albert Einstein.  Creativity, in this sense, is nothing unusual and extra ordinary quality that a person has, but the distinct perspective to look at things and presenting that distinctiveness through one’s own actions. Literature, on the other hand, is the mirror of our life, as Aleksandra Solzhenitsyn says," [it] transmits incontrovertible condensed experience from generation to generation.” In simple words, 'Literature' is a peephole to look at our own life through different angles. Creativity and Literature thus are complementary like bone and flesh, without one, the other can’t exist. Creativity is possible because of imaginative capability of reflecting real world where possibility is molded in the works of literature.
              To enhance the students’ creativity through different literary works, a forum, Creative Literary Forum (CLF) was established formally in the year 2012 A.D. Together with its formation lots of opportunities and challenges came forth due to pre-existing politics at Tribhuvan University. CLF team faced those challenges and hurdles appeared on the way jointly which brought us closer towards our targeted goal. This was possible only because of continuous support, suggestions, compliments and encouragement of CDE, Head of Department, professors, lecturers, staff and fellow students.

Within a short span of time, CLF stood in the frontline with its own identity providing opportunities to the creative students to develop their skill, creativity and to sharpen their talent. Despite having limited circumference, CLF members had put their steps forward and became able to use the resources available in the best level. CLF’s activities, thus, did not get limited within the Department but also flourished in the national level. Literary enthusiasts within CLF, promoting hands from Department and restless creative minds of students have driven CLF in the present stage.

CLF showed its color by reviving the tradition of Wall Magazine Poetica-Literaria, the domicile for creativity on Dec.13, 2012. It includes dozens of literary works like articles, paintings, stories, poems and others. CLF further conducted a poetry recitation program called Devkota-Shakespeare Poetry Competition on Dec.14, 2012 where students got an opportunity to hear Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi. An anthology of poetry Dream Catcher composed by Pushpa Raj Acharya, Lecturer at CDE, was launched in the very program. CLF again organized one day workshop From Page to Stage in association with Mandala Theatre on Dec.24, 2012. Similarly, CLF performed a drama Sundarira Rakshayashko Katha on the occasion of “4^th National Children Theatre Festival 2013” at Kathmandu. Same drama was performed on Auditorium Hall at Tribhuvan University on March 25, 2013 where more than 450 people observed it. Furthermore, CLF organized a drama show at department titled Dukhi Chhori in collaboration with Shilpee Theatre on May 19, 2013.

CLF also organized interaction and poetry recitation program of young poet HemanYatri on May 30, 2013. Similarly, on July 15, 2013 CLF arranged a program where veteran Indian novelist of Nepali origin Lil Bahadur Chhetri shared his experiences about his half-a century old career and young poet Manoj Bogati from Darjeeling recited his creations at Tribhuvan University.

At the end of 2013, CLF published a literary journal Silent Spring which includes the articles, poems, short stories, etc. of students as well as of teachers. CLF also organized Three-Day Story Writing Workshop on March 26-28, 2013, where Krishna Dharabasi and Amar Nyaupane shared their ideas and their experiences about story writing. Department lecturers Bal Bahadur Thapa, Mahesh Paudyal and Khemraj Khanal provided the writing techniques about story. They too aware the participants from various errors in short story writing.

These are some of the programs organized by CLF till now. The passion, pace and zeal of our seniors will be continued and footprints will be followed sincerely in the upcoming days. Although we have many challenges ahead like organizing research based programs, techniques on paper presentation, interdisciplinary approach based programs in collaboration with Central Department of Nepali, Music and Painting and so on, we’ll work our best to face the challenges ahead. CLF, which carries the dream of various students will achieve its ultimate height and fulfill the dreams of creative students studying at CDE. Unity, passion, co-operation and hard work of students and lecturers will help to fulfill the desired goals and extend the name and fame of CLF in its new height.

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