Education for children living in the Sukumbasi settlement in Kirtipur has been disrupted due to the demolition of their homes and their relocation to a holding center. Despite the government’s announcement that admissions began on April 28 and classes started from May 5, these children have been unable to attend school. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City is currently seeking arrangements to provide schooling for the Sukumbasi children at schools near the holding center.
On May 5 in Kathmandu, students were seen leaving the Laboratory School located on Tribhuvan University land following the first class of the 2083 academic session. Near the Radha Swami Satsang Vyas Ashram, adjacent to the Laboratory School gate, are children from the Sukumbasi settlement who are of school-going age. These children have yet to receive any information about the start of classes.
When asked whether they had textbooks and notebooks, or if classes had started, Arpan Bikala, a third-grader at the Radha Swami Satsang Vyas Ashram school in Kirtipur, responded, “No, we don’t have books. Have the classes started? The school is far, how can we go? No bus comes for us! Of course we want to study. Why wouldn’t we? When were we told to come? We don’t know.” Media access to the holding center is prohibited. Arpan, who arrived at the holding center from the Sukumbasi settlement in Gairigaun, added, “Classes at my school had already begun from the 18th. After our homes were demolished, we have nowhere to live. Sir, we have also missed some classes,” he said with disappointment.
“Our friends will probably go to school, but we don’t know when we will,” he lamented. Although the government declared that admissions started from April 28 and classes from May 5 (today), the education of children in the holding center remains stalled. The Constitution guarantees free and compulsory education, yet these children are unable to attend school.
Children at the Kirtipur holding center also lack textbooks and notebooks. Being confined inside, they have started to lose track of the date and day of the week. Fifth grader Janis Magar expressed surprise, saying, “Oh! Classes have started today?” She added, “We don’t even know school has opened. We’re inside; how would we know?” Meanwhile, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has stated it is looking for alternatives to ensure the education of children from the Sukumbasi settlement. One option under consideration is schooling at a nearby school to the holding center.
“We are in talks with the school near the holding center,” said Novin Manandhar, spokesperson for Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
