How students select higher secondary schools? A case study in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I would like to extend my humble gratitude to Mr. Bimalesh Thakur for his invaluable guidance and supervision to complete this dissertation in this shape. I would like to thank to Associate Professor Tilak Prasad Chaulagain the Coordinator of the Dept. for valuable advice. I specially want to thank Kiran Acharya sir who encouraged me to complete this in time. I am very indebted to Mr. Surya Prakash Paudel who developed and suggested me the vision of this study.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Tara Kant Pandey, Mr. Kul Raj Sedai, Mr. Dipendra Adhikari, Mr. Upendra Pokhrel, Mr. Anil Kumar Shrestha, Mr. Damber Karki sirs of the respective +2 colleges who helped invaluable for filling questionnaires. I am very much indebted to the students of Gyankunj, Bernhardt, CCRC, Columbus, Herald Intl. and Paropakar college who filled the questionnaires with great interest. I am very indebted for the authors whose articals and books have been used to prepare this report.

Lastly but not the least, I would like to thank to my beloved Brother inlaw Mr. Surya Prakash Paudel who gave me the valuable assistance in the planning the study and making questionnaire . Similarly I would like to thank for my beloved wife Mrs. Mina Paudel for her constant encouragement to complete this work. I would like to acknowledge my mother Lila Devi Sharma and father Kul Prasad Sharma who are always proud of me and bless me with every success in my life.

Ram Prasad Sharma

TU.Regd. No: No: 33525-91

Batch No: 2056-58

Symbol No: Ist part - 4468 / IIndpart - 8764

Class Roll No: 120

TRIBHUWAN UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

TRICHANDRA MULTIPLE CAMPUS

Department of Sociology / Anthropology

Ghantaghar , Kathmandu-Nepal

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

This is to certify that Mr. Ram Prasad Sharma has prepared this dissertation entitled" FACTORS DETERMINING THE SELECTION OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION : A Case Study of +2 Colleges affiliated to HSEB in Kathmandu Valley"under my guidance and supervision.

I therefore, recommend it for the final approval and acceptance to the dissertation committee.

Bimalesh Thakur

(Dissertation supervisor)

Dept.of Sociology / Anthropology Trichandra Multiple Campus

Kathmandu-Nepal

Date:

TRIBHUWAN UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

TRICHANDRA MULTIPLE CAMPUS

Department of Sociology / Anthropology

Ghantaghar , Kathmandu

This thesis entitled" FACTORS DETERMINING THE SELECTION OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION : A Case Study of +2 Colleges affiliated to HSEB in Kathmandu Valley "prepared and submitted by Mr. Ram Prasad Sharma has been accepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Master Degree of Arts in Anthropology by the dissertation committee comprising of,

Dissertation Evaluation Committee

Coordinator

Associate Professor - Tilak Prasad Chaulagain

Supervisor:

Mr. Bimalesh Thakur

External Examiner:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I would like to extend my humble gratitude to Mr. Bimalesh Thakur for his invaluable guidance and supervision to complete this dissertation in this shape. I would like to thank to Associate Professor Tilak Prasad Chaulagain the Coordinator of the Dept. for valuable advice. I specially want to thank Kiran Acharya sir who encouraged me to complete this in time. I am very indebted to Mr. Surya Prakash Paudel who developed and suggested me the vision of this study.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Tara Kant Pandey, Mr. Kul Raj Sedai, Mr. Dipendra Adhikari, Mr. Upendra Pokhrel, Mr. Anil Kumar Shrestha, Mr. Damber Karki sirs of the respective +2 colleges who helped invaluable for filling questionnaires. I am very much indebted to the students of Gyankunj, Bernhardt, CCRC, Columbus, Herald Intl. and Paropakar college who filled the questionnaires with great interest. I am very indebted for the authors whose articals and books have been used to prepare this report.

Lastly but not the least, I would like to thank to my beloved Brother inlaw Mr. Surya Prakash Paudel who gave me the valuable assistance in the planning the study and making questionnaire . Similarly I would like to thank for my beloved wife Mrs. Mina Paudel for her constant encouragement to complete this work. I would like to acknowledge my mother Lila Devi Sharma and father Kul Prasad Sharma who are always proud of me and bless me with every success in my life.

Ram Prasad Sharma

TU.Regd. No: No: 33525-91

Batch No: 2056-58

Symbol No: Ist part - 4468 / IIndpart - 8764

Class Roll No: 120

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

FACTORS DETERMINING THE SELECTION OF + 2 COLLEGE AND SUBJECT & LEVEL OF SATISFACTION IN STUDENTS

(A Case Study of 10+2 Colleges in kathmandu Valley)

Introduction

Education, the term itself means for 'to train', 'to lead out' and to 'bring up'. It is said that education is a life- long process, but the basic education that one gets during the formative year definitely contributes to the shaping of one's future and outlook. This is where; the school and high school education assumes importance. Today's school is not merely a school it is much more. Its teachers and staff together with the guardians and students give it a wholesome environment. As student not only finds a guru here but guides and friends for life. It is a place to inculcate the fundamentals of honored values. The education of the weak brains between the ages of 17 - 18 is counted within the school education in the international arena (www.hseb.edu.np).

Education is only the means of sustainable development of a country. It is a tool to train a human resource development and social transformation. Being a developing country Nepal has much bigger responsibility to educate its people so that human resources that are more efficient could be produced. Even though the history of education in Nepal is relatively short, there has been a considerable growth in number of educational institutes after the restoration of democracy in 1950 and very massively after 1990 AD.

Normally academic educational system has been officially divided into primary, lower secondary, secondary, higher secondary and higher education in Nepal. After the 1990's revolution private sector investment flourished in this sector as well like in other sectors since government adopted the liberal market economy policy considering as panacea in Nepal. Since 1992, Nepal started the higher secondary school education system comprising of grades eleventh and twelfth. It became progressively popular than the PCL levels of TU. In the later years it was planned to phase out PCL levels of TU but it could not materialized yet. Hence, private 0+2 and 10 +2 mushroomed countless in number in the urban areas providing massive options for the students of SLC graduates, but created illusion of who is better than other is?

Normally academic educational system has been officially divided into primary, lower secondary, secondary, higher secondary and higher education in Nepal. After the 1990's revolution private sector investment flourished in this sector as well like in other sectors since government adopted the liberal market economy policy considering as panacea in Nepal. Since 1992, Nepal started the higher secondary school education system comprising of grades eleventh and twelfth. It became progressively popular than the PCL levels of TU. In the later years it was planned to phase out PCL levels of TU but it could not materialized yet. Hence, private 0+2 and 10 +2 mushroomed countless in number in the urban areas providing massive options for the students of SLC graduates, but created illusion of who is better than other is?

Up to the year of 2007, 1197 higher secondary institutes were in operation under HSEB, Nepal . Pandit (2064), writes "due to being no standard measuring rod so far it has made students and parents bewildered in selecting the college"." Some of the renowned colleges in Kathmandu valley achieve better result is due to being they able to admit the genuine students. One teacher teaching in one college is advertized as best college and the same teacher teaching in other is said to be worse. This is the standard made by beguiling ads." Since, +2 educational markets became more and more complex that created problem for the students and parents to select institutes for study. Many students even unknowingly select the subjects in this illusive environment because of the very lucrative attractions strategies followed by colleges. Some started to admit by different sources of pressures.

Equally, one cannot deny the existence of numerous mediocre institutes coming up with beguiling ads. Just to make quick buck and cheat the students. This may not always the case, but such incidents cannot be overlooked. Hence, it is taken as the subject of comprehensive study. It is a time to know for the students of anthropology actually;

1. What are the bases of selecting college?
2. What can be the bases of selecting subjects?
3. Can students be able to fulfill their dream by +2 studies?
4. Are they satisfied with their performance in this illusive education market?
5. How are the students influenced?

For that discloser this study is designed for.

Objectives of the study

The overall objective of the study is to find the level of satisfaction and factors determining the selection of +2 college and subject in students.

The specific objectives are:

1. To determine the factors influencing for the choice of college and subject in present situation.
2. To find out the level of satisfaction in students after few months study in the college.
3. To find out the relation between desired college/subject and level of academic performance.

Research design

Since, the main objective of the study is to explore and examine the factors determining the selection of +2 college and subject and level of satisfaction in higher secondary level students in private +2 institutes; a survey research was designed in explorative and descriptive system.

Nature and source of the data

The data has been qualitative as well as quantitative in nature. Since, we could not get the secondary data exactly similar to this study, mostly primary data was collected in the month of dec. 2007. According to + 2 Academic calendar of the private institutes, up to dec. students were could be well understood about their college since the session starts at June/July. Up to that time students be appeared at least in two tests conducted by the college and 12 class students get the board exam result of HSEB. During this time, the students as well as parents had better assess the academic environment.

Universe and Sampling

The 10+2 Colleges and their students of the Kathmandu valley were the universe of this study. Among them, the purposively selected total 275 students of class 11 and 12 from science, commerce and arts faculties from Gyankunj, Bernhardt, Paropakar, herarld Int'l, Columbus and CCRC colleges were the sample of the study.

Data collection technique

Questionnaire technique was used to collect the data. Students selected as respondents were made alert at the beginning not to be influenced by the friends' views sitting aside. The teachers who were involved to fill up the questionnaire were personally informed and made clear about the vested meaning of the every question and options answers before sending them to the classes.

Summary and Conclusion

Referring to the objectives of the study, we can summarize and draw the following conclusions:

1. Reputation and pervious result given by the colleges itself is most important factors that lures students and they make the aim to study there (59% students view). Only 7% student selected their college just being inspired from advertisement and about 23 % students followed friends suggestion for that. It shows that some students are not well informed about the grades and standard of the college they admitted.
2. There seeps not a single major factors determining the selection of college. Role of family advice (24%), reputation of college (18%), near from home (17%), friends circle (13%) are seem to be comparatively worthy factors. But scholarship given by college and familiar teachers / managements played 10% /10% role. Actually the fraudulent request of founder (5%) and cheap only (3%) are seem to be least worthy factors.
3. The study discloses that students own interest (87%) factors plays major role in the selection of subject family interest (9%) and friends company (4%) are less worthy factors.
4. The study discloses that mass students (74%) are moderate satisfied with their college, only few (17%) are highly satisfied and only very few (5%) are highly unsatisfied.
5. Regarding selection of subject about 50 % students are highly satisfied, about 42 % are moderately satisfied 5 % are unsatisfied and just 3 % are highly unsatisfied and now regretting. 52 % students class performance is normal about 22 % doing less than normal, 17 % are doing well and about 9 % are doing poor performance in the class. About 53 % students are not sure of fulfilling their aims 40 % are confidently sure and 6 % are at the very low moral state so they are saying "not at all." 6. About 64 % students advise to get proper counseling before admitting college subject but about 31 % advise to make good habits ignoring all other things about 5 % students only advise to follow the parents desires and only negligible students advise to follow friends. Over all study shows, that standardization of colleges and counseling of students is quite necessary.

Recommendation

1. College having standardized teaching learning environment, having qualified teachers, good management, good result achieved, having better conducive environment and disciplinary aspect is to be selected. Not to be believed on large building and advertisement
2. Parents should give the freedom of selecting college and subjects according to interest of their children but provide better counseling from experts.
3. College owners should stop throat cut competition. They should not create cloudy environment with unhealthy ads. Stop unhealthy scholarship / discount drama.
4. They should pay their attention completely to maintain better academic environment in their college.
5. Colleges should contribute for society, conduct researches, pay the taxes transparently, and develop institutional / organizational culture.
6. HSEB as a regularly body of higher secondary education ought to classify the colleges and standardize them with respect to facilities and quality output level of the colleges.
7. HSEB should monitor colleges frequently should have courage of cancelling registration those who do not follow the rules and regulations strictly.
8. Strictly fix the fee and their duties for the colleges.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

It is said that education is a life- long process, but the basic education that one gets during the formative year definitely contributes to the shaping of one's future and outlook. This is where; the school and high school education assumes importance. Today's school is not merely a school it is much more. Its teachers and staff together with the guardians and students give it a wholesome environment. As student not only finds a guru here but guides and friends for life. It is a place to inculcate the fundamentals of honored values. The education of the weak brains between the ages of 17 - 18 is counted within the school education in the international arena (www.hseb.edu.np).

Education, the term itself means for 'to train', 'to lead out' and to 'bring up'. It's comprehensive and implicit aims are the enlargement of mind, discipline, universal outlook , character , activities, trust worthiness ,ideation of good , omniscient and nice temperament (shrestha, 2061 BS). Socrates, Forbes, Cant as philosophers have taken it as the process of complete development .Russo has explained it as the process of building the habits and practices. Johan Deben has explained as the process of adjustment or adaptation in the environment. Hence, there is a great role of education for the standardization of characters, behavior, habits and life process of human being that collectively supports for political and socio-economic up-liftment, total development and nation building. A better- educated human resource is the oxygen of development and progress (ibid).

According to the general principle of education the objectives of education can be individualistic and socio relative in nature. On this basis, the objectives are determined according to the time, place and relevancy. The individual objective of the education is to support to the individual for personality development, exposure of innate potentials and make alert for himself in the achievement of dreams and desires. In the other hand the social objectives of education includes making human being capable to explore the socio- economic potentialities, secure and maintain the quality of life standard, develop relevancy quality , maintain social norms and values , practice the socio cultural traditions etc.

Hence, a state should make an education policy so that their people can achieve the above-mentioned individual and social objectives. The educational policy should be:

- Able to develop the faith of nationalism and be functional to enhance the quality of people to follow the norms and values of the contemporary society.
- Relevant to meet the contextual needs and international standards.
- Maintain equality and equity in practice.
- A medium to mainstream all the groups of the societies.

Historically, there were Gurukul , Devkul, Rajkul, Pitrikul etc. educational practices in Nepal. Mostly Sanskrit was the main language. Gradually, formal educational systems introduced. First of all Jung Bahadur Rana established an English Primary School to teach English to their children in 1910 BS at Thapathali, Kathmandu. That school in 1948 BS gained the shape of Durbar High School. In 1990 BS SLC board established in Kathmandu and in 1972 BS Education Department was established. After that, the number of high schools increased gradually. In 1975 Trichandra College was established. After the demise of Rana regime and political change in 2007 BS , in the changing socio-political scenario the need of change in educational system was felt. Due to which an educational board -2009 was constructed. For the introduction of better and relevant educational system, education commission was made in 2011 BS and 2018 BS. By the recommendations of those commissions a national educational system plan, 2028 was put forwarded as the directive of new educational policy in 2028 BS in Nepal (ibid).

After the educational system plan, 2028, education structure and management system was graded as Primary, Lower Secondary, and Secondary and after ten classes; all grades were grouped under Higher Education system. After the restoration of democracy in 2047 BS , a report was given by the National Education Commission , 2049 where that explained and recommended about national education policy. That policy proposed the 10+2 grade as Higher Secondary Level education equivalent to inter level or PCL level of contemporary education system, which is still effective. The Higher Secondary act, 2046 (with amendments) and Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) are the legal and institutional regulatory structures of this grade of education now.

After the enforcement of Higher Secondary education system as in the international system, gradually Higher Secondary schools started to operate the course. Nevertheless, a throat cut competition started due to the mushrooming of the 0+2 Schools in the name of college, academy and research center etc. in the private sector. Since, the +2 admissions and result scheduled in time and +2 students comparatively scored higher than PCL students in the campus many people preferred +2 rather than PCL. Students flow diverted towards private +2 (specially 0+2) colleges. Some +2 owners earned better in short time. Due to which this business became highly commercialized. New and new advertisement techniques started to lure students. Unbelievable scholarship and discount systems applied to promote the mass business. In the recent data as provided by BSEB there are about 1197 Higher Secondary (+2) institutions and about 350,000 students studying there in Nepal.

Table 1. Sectoral distribution of higher secondary institutes in Nepal

Illustration not visible in this excerpt

Source: HSEB, 2064/3/16

1.2 Statement of the problem

Since, +2 educational markets became more and more complex that created problem for the students and parents to select institutes for study. Many students even unknowingly select the subjects in this illusive environment because of the very lucrative attractions strategies followed by colleges. Some started to admit by different sources of pressures.

As we have seen so many exhibitions and seminars conducted by different institutions, colleges solely or in grand collaboration in different places before and after the SLC result published. The participants representatives of academic institutes seem to be founder/ investors and their senior students and even some figurative in the exhibition. They present different brochures and pamphlets to the visitors and try to convince and fill up the forms in the name of counseling. At that time, we can see big fluxes and tools using the attractive photographs of their college buildings and students (especially girls). So many such tools, banners, posters make the city and highways bride.

Equally, one cannot deny the existence of numerous mediocre institutes coming up with beguiling ads. Just to make quick buck and cheat the students. This may not always the case, but such incidents cannot be overlooked. Hence, it is taken as the subject of comprehensive study. It is a time to know for the students of anthropology actually;

6. What are the bases of selecting college?
7. What can be the bases of selecting subjects?
8. Can students be able to fulfill their dream by +2 studies?
9. Are they satisfied with their performance in this illusive education market?
10. How are the students influenced?

For that discloser this study is designed for.

1.3 Objectives of the study

The overall objective of the study is to find the level of satisfaction and factors determining the selection of +2 college and subject in students. The specific objectives are :

1. To determine the factors influencing for the choice of college and subject in present situation.
2. To find out the level of satisfaction in students after few months study in the college.
3. To find out the relation between desired college/subject and level of academic performance.

1.4 Hypothesis in the study

Students are satisfied with the choice of the college and subject / stream they are studying. Their own interest plays major role to select college and subject.

1.5 Rationale of the study

The proposed study is an academic study as a requirement for the Master's Degree in Anthropology from Trichandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuwan University, Nepal. Education is the most essential factor of social development for which various processes and strategies have been practiced after the restoration of democracy in Nepal.

In the present educational market, private educational institutions are rapidly flourishing. However, in the name of relevant, applied and quality education private institutions are in the throat cut competition. Yes, in the liberal market economy, private sectors are to be encouraged but government should monitor and regulate properly. By this study finding it is expected to disclose the real facts systematically. This study will find out the factors which are plying role to admit in any particular college and really they got benefit from that college or not. With that generalization government will get a guideline to formulate the further policy for the Higher Secondary education and +2 colleges specially more effectively which is a burning issue of the present days as well.

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Review of literature

This study aims to analyze the level of satisfaction and factors determining the selection of +2 HSS /college and subject in students. Since, education always plays a vital role in social transformation. The focal point of the study is education, individual and society.

In the workshop paper of Koirala entitled "Concept of school education and concern of Higher Secondary education" (in Nepali), writes " The worldwide practiced Higher Secondary education is most necessary system accepted completely in accordance to the day by day changing global condition and demand of the time. This system of education is been operated not being emerged by any incident but due to the natural felt and need of educationists and intellectual circles in the context of ever growing globalization in education. The concept of Higher Secondary education in Nepal materialized in 1992 with intent of reforming the secondary level and higher education. This is the extension of school. But there are 0+2 (stand alone) also operating here". (www.hseb.edu.np)

In the topic "what to study, how to study? Interest own self", Jha (2063) writes " due to being the educational institutions of the country not so better many students are going abroad ". In the topic "where to study"? Pandit (2064) has indicated" there is no classification of +2 colleges, no standardization and there is the contest of advertisement. This is making difficult to select the colleges". In the same article, the president of guardian association says, "there is the trend of giving pressure by parents to select subject for students. That is not good ". In the "what to look for in a college" article Himalayan Times agencies has recommended many guidelines regarding the selection of college.

Some of the renowned colleges in Kathmandu valley achieve better result is due to being they able to admit the genuine students. One teacher teaching in one college is advertised as best college and the same teacher teaching in other is said to be not better. This is the standard made by 'beguiling' ads. Contest (ibid).

Hence, to disclose that, actually how the students are selecting college and subjects and are they satisfied in the selection? This study was conducted.

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