"Fathers wives had passed away. And his daughters from them had married and left. There were no women to look after him and the other children so he married my mother. He was 60 and my mother 30. He did, however, send us to school. For that, I feel indebted to him for if he had chosen to give me away at a young age, my life would have never seen the light of living. He was also a poor man, a simple farmer who made just enough to feed his family. Maybe he understood that the days of farming was coming to an end. I remember him telling me that the tools he used were soon to be rendered useless as society moved towards markets and business. He told me that the books that I received from schools were going to be my weapons. I somehow managed to complete my studies, up to the 12th grade.Since then I have been teaching infants and toddlers at this community school. It is a challenge as pre-primary and primary education is not viewed as important as secondary education in the current system. The wages are low and the hours are long. Generally speaking, there is only one teacher to control an entire class of kids. Many schools do not have a routine or a curriculum set for these kids. This has seriously impeded their early development. There is only so much the teachers alone can do. The parents of the children who come here are farmers and they have to struggle to make ends meet so they have little time to think about school and the importance of education. So at many times, there is no strong participation from the parents. And I do not blame them. The thing that will provide ration immediately is always going to be of urgency to people who have limited means. But in all of this, the lives of these children are being compromised. I am not sure who is to blame. I am not sure all the books I read are so useful anymore."
(Laxmi Rai, Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadi 12, Khotang)
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SON X UN