Dadeldhura Municipalities embrace digital technology to enhance education quality

Dadeldhura: Municipalities in Dadeldhura are increasingly leveraging digital technology to promote good governance, transparency, and improved education quality in their schools.

In the rural and remote areas of Dadeldhura, digital platforms are being used to reduce the need for school principals, School Management Committee chairpersons, office bearers, and teachers to visit municipal offices daily. Ganesh Bahadur Poudel, Education, Youth and Sports Branch Officer of Bhageshwor Rural Municipality, said that emails, video calls, and phone communications are now extensively used, allowing teachers to spend more time in classrooms and focus on students’ learning. A strategy has been adopted to require teachers to be physically present in municipal offices only when necessary.

According to Poudel, Bhageshwor Rural Municipality is actively planning in the education sector, auditing schools, and implementing social inspection standards. Contractual agreements have been established with school principals and teachers, and logbooks are maintained in schools to monitor performance. The appointment of information officers in schools ensures that complaints, suggestions, and necessary information are handled efficiently.

The education branch extensively uses emails and internet-based communications to provide services. Responses to school requests are sent electronically, while most consultations are conducted via mobile phones. Grade sheets for Class 8 students are now published online, enabling greater transparency.

Despite these efforts, last year’s SEE (Secondary Education Examination) results highlighted challenges. Out of eight secondary schools in Bhageshwor, two schools scored zero, while five out of eight students passed in Shivshankar Secondary School. Weaknesses were noted in Mathematics and Science, prompting the organization of free additional classes for students of Grades 8-10.

In the fiscal year 2081/082, Bhageshwor Rural Municipality allocated Rs. 3.6 million for meetings of principals, school audits, trainings, observation tours of model schools, and additional classes. The current fiscal year 2082/083 has a budget of Rs. 3.7 million, with a focus on demand-based training programs. Plans are also underway to conduct Grade 5 board exams and standardize question papers from Grades 4-8.

SEE 2081 results in Dadeldhura highlighted further challenges, with seven schools in the district, including three in Bhageshwor Rural Municipality, recording zero results. Out of 109 students appearing for SEE in Bhageshwor, only 30 passed. The schools with zero results included Saraswati Sample Secondary School Bogta, Kailapal Secondary School Patram, and Kailapal Secondary School Panyut.

Navadurga Rural Municipality has also implemented free extra classes for Grades 8-10 in subjects such as Mathematics, Science, and English. Education Officer Ravi Kumar Chaudhary emphasized the importance of educational debates involving public representatives, principals, SMC chairpersons, office bearers, parents, and students to identify weaknesses and enhance accountability. Murals depicting teaching methods have been installed in 12 out of 28 schools to engage students.

Audit and social inspections are conducted continuously, though information officers have not yet been appointed in Navadurga schools. The education department spent Rs. 23 million, including teachers’ salaries, last fiscal year, and has received around Rs. 10 million, excluding salaries, for the current fiscal year. Grants are also provided to recruit volunteer teachers and conduct additional classes where teacher vacancies exist.

These digital and strategic initiatives aim to improve the quality of education, ensure transparency, and strengthen governance in the educational sector of Dadeldhura.