Enrollment Campaign Begins in Sunsari Schools After Teachers’ Protest Ends
The student enrollment campaign started in community schools across Sunsari on Thursday, following the end of the nearly month-long teachers' protest.
Informal Start to the Enrollment Drive
Though not publicly announced, teachers and school management committees in many schools began the enrollment campaign on Thursday. They focused on enrolling children who were absent or did not attend school regularly.
Delay Due to Nationwide Teachers’ Protest
The enrollment drive, originally scheduled to begin on the 2nd of Baisakh, was delayed by three weeks due to the teachers’ protest in the federal capital. According to Bunu Sigdel, President of the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, the campaign officially resumed in Sunsari after an agreement was reached through dialogue.
New Academic Year Enrollment Delayed by Three Weeks
Sigdel stated that the enrollment campaign for the new academic session 2082, which was to begin on Baisakh 2, was postponed due to the protest. The drive resumed after the recent agreement between the government and the protesting teachers.
Focus on Out-of-School Children
Ganesh Bhattarai, Principal of Budhasubba Basic School in Inaruwa-2, said that although 93 to 96 percent of children in the target age group enroll each year, some remain out of school. In response, an intensive campaign has been launched.
According to Bhattarai, the campaign includes door-to-door visits in surrounding areas to address the exclusion of Dalit, Urau, and Madhesi children and inform families that schools have reopened. It aims to help children access education.
Extra Efforts to Cover Learning Loss and Increase Enrollment
Bhattarai added that they are compensating for the academic loss caused by the protest by using holidays for classes. In parallel, efforts are being made to bring out-of-school children back into the education system.
School Management Committee Supports the Drive
Jayakrishna Yadav, Chairperson of the Community School Management Committee Federation in Inaruwa Municipality, said the federation supported the teachers’ protest. Now that the dialogue has succeeded, teachers have sincerely returned to their duties, making the campaign effective.
Yadav stated that the enrollment campaign will help bring children from poor and disadvantaged families into school. However, he also pointed out that enrolling children is one task, but retaining them in school remains a serious challenge. This calls for increased awareness and responsibility among teachers.
Dropout Rates Still a Concern
In Sunsari, many students admitted in Grade 1 drop out before reaching the secondary level. Rising dropout rates are often attributed to early marriage and financial hardship.
Yadav suggested that teachers could fulfill part of their social responsibility by conducting at least one parent education session monthly to support both parents and students.
Sunsari