Online class stories of my niece during COVID-19

She was supposed to start her new session in grade 9 this year.

Not everyone in the class attends a zoom call for studying.

Those who have internet and device accessibility can join a zoom call.

Only half of the students attend class.

They will have classes only for Maths, Science, Nepali and social studies.

Some day:

The teacher will have a problem with their internet and the class got canceled.

Some day:

The teacher arrives 10 minutes later in the zoom call and leaves early.

Some day:

The teacher will teach for 15 minutes and they chat with each other like in class. 

Some day:

The teacher does not know how to get connected on zoom call so sents messages to everyone and waits for the next teacher to gather everyone in a zoom call.

Some day:

The teacher feels sick and no one replaces the class for him.

Some day:

She (my niece) has to go through the power cut because of heavy rain and storm. If no power there's no class.

Some day:

My phone runs out of charge and she could not attend class.

Some day:

She goes to visit her parents and doesn't attend class.

Math teacher

He shows how to solve problems in the paper and send pictures of solved problems on messenger.

Social Work

During my ,previous job one of my colleague told me I will never tell any of my relatives to study Social Work Degree because of not have any expertise in any sector and no more scope to work in society. I did not react but this statement made me think about the social work and the profession associated with it.

Recently, visited one reputed organization working for children, there were the social work trainee waiting for children to come their mere job is to take care of children during day time like “Nanny”. I have heard that some of the students have to clean the filthy toilets of some organizations too. When I was student of social work during my bachelor level I have been through the same situation not to the extent of Nanny but more or less working like volunteer in an organization.

The social workers can work beyond nanny or the mere cleaner. The social workers have variety of things to do; to work on counseling for the victims, meeting with parents/family, administration and to find out the needs of victims, work for fund raising and more importantly be the bridge between the family, client and organization in need.

My response to my dear colleague, in Nepal there is still mismatch between profession that we are into and degree that we have. People hardly get job in the subject they have mastered in. " My own brother used to be the student of Humanities, now he is working in the field of hospitality management and even dabbles in his office's account section too. I have seen many engineers working in the different types of NGOs in a position that have nothing to do with their field of study." (The degree divide, 2010)

In Nepal there still lacks the particular specialization in social work in academy or degree and less concept of corporate, industrial and clinical Social work where social worker can work. Moreover there is still confusion among people regarding the difference between social work and social service.

A woman's Worth

Tears rolled down my face after reading the news that a rural woman was murdered because her family was unable to provide the television and buffalo for her dowry. By the time the crime was reported her husband and in-laws had already escaped from the village.  This is not the first time I read such news. But this time I asked myself what the groom’s family got after she died. The answer, of course, is nothing. So what was the worth of this murder? Even worse, for every report like this that we read in the news, there are probably many more that never come to light.

Two years back there was a marriage ceremony planned in my neighbourhood. Everything was prepared and just four or five days remained before the wedding when the groom’s family demanded a motorcycle and some jewelry. The bride’s family had no choice but to fulfill the demands made at the 11th hour. As both families were educated residents of Kathmandu, such demands could be met and the crisis that befell the poor bride mentioned earlier averted. Still, one has to be surprised that such dowry demands are even made by the educated of Kathmandu. The system seems to be prevalent everywhere, but different economic and social circumstances determine how it plays out.

Traditionally, parents used to give something like fuli, earrings or, some land if they have it, to their daughter before her marriage so that she could use these things when in need. The concept of dowry developed from these origins. But the dowry system has evolved as our communities have.

The fear of dowry has now become so great that many parents can no longer feel joy at the birth of a daughter. I have even heard that if the groom is a doctor or engineer, the bride’s family has to pay the amount spent on his studies as a dowry. This is a consideration for parents in deciding when their daughter should marry. Better to do so young, before the groom has a chance to earn such an expensive degree.

I am a girl. There is no denying that I will one day get married. So which material thing should I compare my life with? A television? A motorcycle? Jewelry? Or is my life worth the buffalo that cost the young bride hers?

Why are a woman’s education, skills and achievements not counted as part of the dowry her family pays to the family of the groom? Why must the couple’s happiness depend on what material things she can collect from her maternal home? Why must women continue to belittle their worth and risk their lives in the name of dowry? In time, a couple can buy a television, a motorcycle or even a buffalo. But we can’t return value to a life lost.