FOBS

[Bishnu Pariyar]

Dear all,

Please find a letter we sent to President of FOBS regarding its recently activities at BNKS.

Mr Mahendra Bista

President

Friends of Budhanilkantha School (FOBS)

Kathmandu

Nepal

Date: Thursday, 20 November 2012

Dear Mr. Bista

To introduce myself, my name is Dr. Bishnu Pariyar and I am a ex-student of Budhanilkantha School in Kathmandu. I was a scholarship student from 1994 -2003 until I completed my 10+2 representing Lamjung district. Following my studies at Budhanilkantha School, I moved to  University of York (UK) for my undergraduate in 2003. I have completed my PhD from the same University in 2011 and I work as an Affiliate Research Fellow at the University of York. We have a long and established tradition of our students and teachers receiving their education/training at the University of York. Personally I am ever so grateful to Budhanilkanthat School for providing me with the best education that I could ever dream of in my life. 

Since I moved to the UK, we have formally established Society of Ex-Budhanilkantha Student UK Chapter called SEBS-UK to provide  welfare support to our members in UK and mainland Europe, support current students studying in BNKS and provide social services in Nepal. 

We recently held a discussion amongst SEBSers from around the globe and would like to bring the following to your attention:

We have had the pleasure of interacting with many members of FOBS in the past including Dr Chanda Karki, GSL Kakshyapati  and AKC amongst others  and be inspired by them both in academics and extra-curricular activities.  We always valued their guidance particularly in helping us run programs through different clubs at the School and ensuring that students are well looked after whilst they are at the school. As such, we have always believed that FOBS is an integral part of BNKS family. 

However, we are very disappointed to see FOBS being mentioned in some of the popular presses regarding the ongoing problems at BNKS. In particular, we are very concerned by a visit made by FOBS members to Ministry of Education to discuss the issues related to Headmaster's appointment. This has been confirmed by the Ministry of Education during our inquiry. Furthermore, our attention has been particularly drawn by comments made by Mr. Bishnu Neupane (as reported by the press) to Education Secretary.  It is reported that he has threatened the Secretary of repeating the past incidence of locking them inside the school to ensure that MOE appoints  the individual preferred by FOBS as the headmaster of BNKS.  Can we be absolutely clear here, if Mr Neupane has the power to lock the Education Secretary inside the school, I am sure we together with the State has the power to lock him behind the bars!  I am sure you will agree with us that there is an independent Principal Selection Committee headed by Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma and he has other experts in the committee to provide BNKS with the best candidate. We should let the committee do its job independently. FOBS should not interfere with the integrity of the Committee.  This is because FOBS has the representation on the Principal Selection Committee and FOBS also is pressuring the MOE, which does not contribute to the impartiality of the headmaster selection process at all.

We are in contact with headmaster Mr. NP Sharma on a regular basis via emails who has helped many of us through our school/college days. Personally speaking, he had recommending me to study in the UK in 2003. In fact, he is one of the teachers who has inspired a generation of students who now have excelled in their chosen career and actively engaged in various works throughout the world. In our correspondence we have discussed about the general welfare of the school and ways in which we could work together for the betterment of BNKS These are inspired by our bonds created by a common cause i.e. our association with BNKS. Mr. Sharma's contribution to BNKS will always remain unique in its own right. However, given the fact that Mr Sharma has been running the school for almost two decades perhaps we should advice him to handover the responsibilities on high notes.  This is very important for all the stakeholders of BNKS. This is also important because of some of the allegations that have been made against him. We should give him time and space to clear his name for which his continued involvement in BNKS is perhaps not appropriate. It is therefore, we find it hard to believe that FOBS is lobbying on behalf of Mr. Sharma to ensure the continuity of his leadership at BNKS. This approach does not suit FOBS as it should be focusing on what is best for the school in long term. After all FOBS has to work with individual whoever gets the job.

We humbly request you that FOBS does not put unnecessary pressure on headmaster selection process and let the independent panel do its job. This is best for all the stakeholders of BNKS. 

Therefore, it is our humble request to FOBS to maintain impartiality in its conduct on issues pertinent to BNKS . We love the school, which made us who we are today, as much as FOBS. I am sure you will agree with me that we all want the best for the School and students who study there. 

We have discussed some of the ways in which we can work together which I outline here:

1) FOBS should remain impartial in activities related to BNKS and ensure that its Executive Committee is inclusive. In particular in terms of having representation from scholarship students. I am acutely aware of difficulty associated with this but I am sure we can capitalise both our expertise on this.

2)  SEBS should be given appropriate platform in decision making mechanisms regarding BNKS. It would be wonderful if BNKS can make arrangements for a Alumni Affairs Office at the School.  SEBS has the expertise now which not only BNKS can benefit but the entire country can benefit from. It will wonderful to see BNKS drawing expertise from this valuable resource pool. 

3). BNKS should make all its activities transparent as this is where the crux of the problem lies at the moment.

4) The section of the MOE looking after BNKS should keep a close eye on BNKS operation particularly in the School Audit processes including scholarship students selection processes. Scholarship selection process has been particularly criticized in years.

5) I think we should also have an independent scholarship students selection committee , which is jointly facilitated by BNKS and MOE. 

6) Whilst we appreciate some of the issues raised by BNKS Staff Union to maintain accountability at BNKS, we believe that the Union itself needs to be dismantled to create an inspiring educational environment for both committed teachers and students at BNKS.  

These are just our thoughts and it would be nice if we can have some brainstorming exercise on these. Perhaps we can have a conference via internet. I am sure we can make an arrangement for this to happen.

Should you wish to contact us, you could do it by email (bishnu....@celp.org.uk), by phone (+44 01904 424491) or by skype (drbpariyar).

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your kind co-operation.

Sincere,

Dr. Bishnu pariyar

University of York

UK

 

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Dr. Bishnu Pariyar
Associated Researcher
Centre for Ecology, Law & Policy (CELP)
Department of Social Policy and Social Work
University of York, Heslington, York, UK
YO10 5DD
E-mail: bishnu....@celp.org.uk
Phone: +44 01904 424491 (R); +44 01904 321261 (O); +44 07846286819 (M)