Decree on schools' foreign names

Posted on: 2012-08-15 09:41:29

Switching the Names to Number This issue may also trigger discussions on the origin of the name. For example, Ram Lal Secondary School could be a Nepali name with roots to religion. There are similar examples of institutions with foreign names, which ultimately lead to one or other religion. Hence, numbering the institution could be an option to start solving the issue. School 201 or College 1053 may sound funny but should be fine if this avoids the tremendous loss of young minds not being able to attend the schools everyday due to senseless agitations. It is also important for these highly knowledgeable students to review the names of their own affiliated political organizations such as UML, Congress, Forum, Marxist, Maoists, Leninist etc etc. Again, numbering the party and restructuring the states based on the numbers (also based on populations, area, resources whatever you number it) could give great relief to all Nepali people suffering from the last so many years in the name of the politics. It also sounds logical. Actually, we all are counted by numbers. Citizenship is number based. Names are established through numbers (vote, notes/money, marks, ranks, top 10 top 100 etc). Possessions (land, productions, earnings) are number based. Then what is wrong in having numbers for everything? We can actually start counting the development of the nation switching from names to number. Thanks to all those who invented numbers. Kunal Awasthi, Kathmandu

Posted on: 2012-08-10 19:04:17

This is in reference to the comment posted by Mr.Rishi Thapa Magar.I totally agree with you and would like to thank you for reinforcing the issue of the "International Tag".It is a common scenario and many of us might have witnessed those big hoarding boards.But the substitution of Foreign names with those of Nepalese martyrs,poets or intellectuals cannot assure the CHANGE in the quality of education.We do not want sub standard colleges to produce educated illiterates. We do not want a workforce who can recognize the alphabet but cannot find a job.Besides changing the names, the Government should also try to raise the standard of colleges and make some space for value based education. Dr.Prasida Khanal, USA

Posted on: 2012-08-08 21:50:46

It was interesting to read opinions expressed in this regard. In other countries, when schools use the word 'international' in their name then it denotes that they follow or have adopted an international curriculum with international standard and quality of education catering mainly to international students and hence 'international' school. However, I am not sure if this is true in Nepal. Yes, everyone has the right to adopt marketing policy to put up with competitiveness however, this right should not be used to mislead anyone. If a company markets its products with the tag 'imported components' when actually all the components are locally made then does that mean that they can do so and mislead customers in the name of marketing policy and competitiveness? For me, that is cheating. Honesty is still the best policy and what we claim, we must deliver. It is important that we understand the meaning and impact of any word or phrase that we use to market our services or products. Rishi Thapa Magar, London

Posted on: 2012-08-07 19:49:47

It is a good step as every other secondary school is entitled with a foreign name along with the "International"tag.It is often misleading and demands a higher tuition fee to comply with its fake standards.There was no any regulation in the past to govern the names therefore the schools cannot be held guilty.Everyone has the right to adopt marketing policy to put up with the competitiveness,but it is upto the students/parents to make a wise choice.why not design and implement a policy to ban expensive advertisements with the pictures of SLC toppers along with a norm for school names??That will not only aid in preserving Nepali culture but shall maintain the quality of education. Dr.Prasida Khanal, USA

Posted on: 2012-08-07 10:29:51

Using names of well-established institutions like BehHart, Brookfield, Oxford, Cambridge, Chelsea, Hilbert, Herald, NASA, Nicholson, Richmond, Thames, Whitefield, Welhams and so on from other countries is not only misleading parents and students into thinking that these institutions are affiliated to their counterparts but also morally and legally wrong as it is copyright infringement. The government authorities should have asked these institutes to show proof of legal consent from owners to use their names to ensure nobody is infringing copyright before allowing them to use the names. Also, what is this with every Tom, Dick and Harry using the word 'international' with their school or college names when only local Nepali students are attending? The government should set certain requirements like evidence of at least 40-50 percent of total number of students enrolled being from different countries (but not just India) before granting the use of the word 'international' while naming schools and colleges. Nepal must be the only country in the world with the greatest number of 'international' schools and colleges but with the least number of international students studying. Rajesh Chettri, Nepal