But the topic has resurfaced as the students have begun a protest demanding the government to remove some points from the code of conduct.
While the government officials and the Higher Secondary Schools´ Association Nepal (HISSAN) stand together to implement the code of conduct, students say they fiercely oppose the decision. [break]
A group of students from various colleges staged a protest in front of HSEB demanding withdrawal of the ban on laptops, mobile phones, motorcycles.
Even some experts feel that the code of conduct is impractical.
Educationist Bidya Nath Koirala said forbidding the use of technology can never be practical in today´s context as people are more and more dependent on electronic gadgets. He suggested the officials to amend the code of conduct to make it more relevant.
“Instead of restricting mobiles, the government and colleges should find a way to help students use the technology more effectively,” said Koirala.
HSEB Vice Chairperson Hem Kumar Mishra has said that any change in the code of conduct is impossible for now. “The restrictions are necessary to stop the prevalent delinquencies,” he added.
The code of conduct mentions the type of dresses education institutions should set for the students. It also specifies the size of pants and skirts. Likewise, if students are found using mobile phones on school premises, the school authority are allowed to seize the gadget and inform the guardians. For a repeat offence, the student can be fined up to Rs 3,000.
The document bars students from visiting places such as cinema halls, restaurants, parks, shopping malls in uniform. They are not allowed to drink alcohol during school hours and in school uniform. In this case as well, the student would be fined Rs 3,000 for first time and Rs 5000 for committing the mistake for the second time.
Similarly, students can be fined up to Rs 2000 if they bunk classes. They may be suspended or rusticated for a repeat transgression. In the same way, the students must have 90 percent attendance to be eligible to appear for the board exams of Grade XI and Grade XII.
However, the students have opposed the ethics saying that the HSEB was conspiring against them. The students say that the collaboration of security personnel in controlling students is pathetic.
The HISSAN has been coordinating with the Nepal Police to check the student´s activities in public places since May as per which the security personnel have also been asked to detain students if they smoke in public places. The security cell would be instituted in the capital in first phase and expand in other places. The HISSAN has been fully supporting the code of conduct and wants the security personnel to cover academic institutional areas.
Kishor Aryal, 18
St. Xavier´s College
The Higher Secondary Education Board and the Ministry of Education have really presented themselves in an immature manner in recent years. They have kneeled down to party affiliated students´ and teachers´ unions on countless occasions; heeding to their violent calls and lockdowns, agreeing to their selfish demands.
But at the same time, they have ignored the necessities of the silent majority -- the students of private institutions, the ones who do not take to the streets and are not organized under flags. Instead, they have implemented a ridiculous code of conduct, one which violates our fundamental, constitutional rights.
Why can´t a 16 year old who has received a license from the state ride his motorcycle to school? Why do the police join the Chief District Officer in monitoring students in their classes, while criminals who have been convicted by the courts move free? The contradictions are clear.
We, the students´ of Saint Xavier´s College, Maitighar, have been deeply offended by the letter sent by HSEB asking our school to enforce a uniform upon us. A lot of my friends study in the United States and Europe and none of them have a uniform and yet their discipline is of the highest order. The officials that lead our educational system are outdated; they are simply out-of-touch. They either need to change or be replaced.
Shannon Gomez, 16
Trinity International College
The recent directive issued by the HSEB states that any student found using a mobile phone or laptop in school, and visiting cinema halls, malls, restaurants, parks and other public places in their college uniforms would be monitored by police-like forces of the HSEB, questioned, fined and detained.
This is simply unbearable. What about all the people who are flaunting the laws of our land, murdering, raping, and creating public disturbances? They are allowed to roam free, whilst we, the youth, the future of Nepal, are constantly harassed by the same authorities that exist to protect us. Do our leaders realize that we have the right to free speech and free movement guaranteed by the constitution?
I would like to site an incident that took place in Pokhara quite recently, where police personal visited different schools and questioned students about whether they were carrying mobile phones or bike keys. On affirmation from them, picked them up and disdained them. Is this a right move in our democratic country? Is this how our youth are going to be treated? Why are the authorities hell bent on hurting us psychologically and destroying our family lives?
All these stringent measures taken by the concerned authorities are simply unbearable. Yesterday, I took to the streets for the first time in my life and let out my frustrations in front of the HSEB in Sano Thimi. We registered a letter saying the HSEB´s move to mobilize police-like forces to discipline students is totally unacceptable.
I am an 11th grader and cannot take to the streets on a regular basis. I have my classes, my studies, my college - they are my priorities. Not wearing a mini-skirt, taking gadgets - mobile phones and tablets that can help me in my studies to school or riding a scooter so that I can reach school on time; will not make me a less-disciplined individual. I just hope that students like me do not have to take to the streets in masses to secure our fundamental rights.
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