Computer Education In Nepali Schools

Definition
Merriam-Webster defines, “computer is a programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve, and process data”.
In technical term, computer is an electronic device that does so many jobs with the help of set of instruction given by the users.
Computer education is the systematic way of educating people about the computer and its’ use and the application in the present world, so they are able to use computers and get a field of knowledge dealing with technical aspects, its’ use and the importance. Through computer education, mainly it helps in education i.e. educating people, communicating and providing the knowledge of using internet facilities. Using the basic techniques like multimedia presentation, video conferencing, etc. it makes people easy to learn and understand the selected course. With the facilities like e-mail, e-e-chat and virtual forum room, internet has now become the most essential, available and cheapest means of communication.

Background
History of computer in Nepal
Wavemag.com.np’s cover story Digital Nepal by Prerana Marasini informs us that Nepal hired a second generation computer, an IBM 1401, to maintain population census record in 1971. It also explains that, with the growing importance of computer National computer center was established three years later in 1974 to meet data processing requirements.
The beginning of the development of software and computer applications by private sectors was around in 1980. Yet, the computer education was not taken in the course study. Only a few businessmen were able to use computers as part of their business. Though government had brought and introduced computers in its different sectors, computer education was not made compulsory in schools. Later with the help of some conscious and well informed persons, computer education was introduced in different private schools, colleges and established sectors. In this way computer education flourished in Nepali school. So long government has made IT Policy 2000 but still now computer education is not made compulsory subject in schools. With the consideration to help government in advising and lobbying on key IT issues, CAN (Computer Association of Nepal) was established in 1992.

Different sectors where computer was first introduced
Through the continuous development and consciousness about the importance and use of computers in different fields, it was then introduced by different sectors of Nepal. Government brought second generation computer in population census department in 1971. Similar type of computer was introduced in National computer center (NCC) in 1974, after its establishment. Banks like Nepal Rastra Bank and Rashtriya Banijya Bank were among a few to introduce computer.
Since the private sectors played an important role in introducing a computer education in Nepali schools, they were also the first to introduce computers in Nepal.
Private training institutes and Universities come first in among private sectors.
Within a few years of establishment in 1992, with the help of some international donors Kathmandu University (K.U) was able to introduced typewriter and computer. Institute of engineering, established in 1972 and Merchantile office system were also among those who were instrumental in computer education in Kathmandu.

Role of government and local agencies
By introducing computer in its different field government is the first to pave the path for the computer education in Nepal. Following the government activities, the need and importance of computer, private sectors and local agencies then played one of the major roles in bringing computer and implementing computer education in Nepali school.
According to Computer Capsule by Bhes Raj Poudel , government brought fourth-generation computer, ICL2950/10 with the help of UNDP and UNFPA in 2038 B.S. It also informs us that in 1980, with the help of British government, the employees of the National Computer Center got opportunities for higher education and training in foreign countries. IT policy 2000 was established to place Nepal on the global map of the information technology within the next five years. In accordance to IT scenario of Nepal by Rajib Subba, Kathmandu University, a private institution, started computer engineering in mid 90’s and IOE (government) in 1998/1999 whereas Bachelor level computer education by private sectors in early 90’s. As a joint venture of the royal Nepal academy of science and technology and mercantile office system, internet was introduced in 1993 as stated by wavmag.com.np’s cover story Digital Nepal by Prerana Marasini. In this way role of government and local agencies was remarkable.

Introduction
Realizing the need for skilled manpower, conscious and well informed users helped to introduce computer studies in schools. But even today, when computer literacy is a necessity, the subject is treated as optional. Private school in urban areas provides computer education with access to e-mail and internet. Though the government provides free email facilities to public schools, few are equipped with IT facilities. In an attempt to improve the teaching standard, National Center for Educational Development, Department of Education and Distance Education Center conduct primary teacher training programs while secondary Education Development Center trains secondary school teachers.

Various applications of computer education in Nepal
In Nepal IT has been utilized in various sectors. Some prominent are mentioned below. Government use computer in its different sectors to keep record and process data. Such as examination processing, school information system, voters registration system, criminal record information system, population census record, surveys etc. Semi-government organizations are now equipped with computerized system. Mostly, Nepal Telecom, Nepal Electricity Authority, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) and Nepal Rastra Bank use computer system for billing, personnel records, customer service and for other various purposes. Financial sectors such as state affiliated banks, finance companies and cooperatives and insurance companies use computers in their system. Other sectors where computers are in use are tourism industries, industrial and business enterprises, educational institutions and hospitals.

Notable Accomplishments
After implementation of computer education in schools, students are interested in taking further higher studies in computer which has helped to produce computer expertise. Today more than a dozen companies are working in the field of outsourcing the software from Nepal incoming a million of dollar as a economic source of Nepal. According to IT scenario of Nepal by Rajib Subba Nepal outsources the following products.
· Sizable and successful software like Banking, Healthcare and Airlines Systems.
· Development services to reputed companies like Toshiba, Oracle.
· Mission critical projects like on-line medical transcriptions.
· E-commerce portals.
· MM CD-ROM of Nepal which has acclaimed International BEST Award.

Importance of computer education, an IT for Nepal
With the growing demand of an IT professional, computer education now becomes the require subject to be introduce from school level. A geographical country like Nepal can achieve a lot, if nation can produce a computer (an IT) expertise from the root level. It may enable Nepal to achieve the goal of being a prosperous and self-reliant nation. Not only the IT industry help to generate wealth, foreign exchange and employment but also it helps to build knowledge-based society, general public to access the information technology and to establish knowledge-based industries. But why only computer education and not other IT education? Because computer education is the basic of all other IT education. Also it is the easiest and fastest way to create job opportunities in the market with the growing demand of IT professional world wide. A new opportunity created by E-commerce and Internet is another gateway for computer education. Thus computer education now has the fastest growing career opportunities world wide.

Present Environment
The tremendous growth of information technology during the past two decades has made possible to work in giving education in various ways though it has not implemented in Nepali schools till now. Some of the possible uses of technology mentioned by Forum for Computer Education in Schools in association with Indiatimes are as follows.
· Use technology in planning of lessons.
· Integrating technology with school education. Use of multimedia and internet to benefit learning.
· Interactive learning where the teachers also learn from children in addition to children learning from their peers.
· Sharing of lessons, assignments and evaluation of performance through the Internet that is, distance learning.

Present Scenario of Computer Education
In this age of computer some of the schools, mostly public schools do not have even a single computer. Most students in the rural areas have never seen a computer. Even those students who do know how to use a computer cannot work on a computer. This is necessary to increase the quality of education. In the secondary school curriculum, computer study is an optional subject to study, but as there is no computer in the schools, students are deprived of this opportunity. In private schools children use computers from the primary level. It is a pity that public schools do not have computers for educational purpose but only for office use. Although the government does not provide computers, it has a policy to provide free Internet service to those schools that have a computer facility.
Although the teaching methodology of computer education may not so effective, the private schools are at least providing students with computer education from primary level. They charge extra fee for the computer. But, still due to lack of the expert computer professional i.e. IT expertise in teaching fields, children are prone to study with low quality and inexperienced teacher and lack of good facilities such as proper computer lab and update to latest technology. According to this research, few schools such as Kathmadu Don Bosco School, Little Angles, Nobel Academy, Galaxy Public School and other which are quite expensive are a few ones for giving quality computer education, although they still don’t get update to the latest technology and means of teaching methodology. Thus, the children from the lower background family are still deprived of getting proper knowledge of computer and the latest technology.
Creation Academy, a private primary school located in Kathmandu is giving computer education from the primary level. But due to the lack of sufficient computers in the school lab, children are still not getting benefit from it. Some facts of Creation Academy are given below.
School: Creation Academy
Level: Lower Secondary
Location: Koteshwor, Kathmandu
Total Students: 210
Run by: Private Sectors
Computer Education From: Grade III
No. of Computer: 5
Computer Teacher’s Qualification: Diploma in Basic Computer from private training institute, Bachelor level education.
Here, this record shows that five students are arranged to seat in one computer. So, none of them can get benefit of using computer in school. And also the qualification of teacher is too low to teach the students. It clarify that school is not intend of giving quality computer education to its students but only to attract the parents and the students.
Some of the government schools like Durbar High School located centrally in Kathmandu is trying the best for giving computer education to the students. Introduction of the few government schools are given below.

Durbar High School
Web site of Durbar High School, dhs.edu.np/pages/computin.htm states, After its establishment in 1854 A.D., the students were able to get computer education only in around 1996 after Nepal Trust (NT) started project with a few Macintosh PCs. The project appears to have been fairly low key in the first few years, with only a limited number of students and staff being given the opportunity to get involved. In 1999, INitiate Singapore donated fifteen second-hand multimedia Pentium PCs to the school. A short training course was given and then the computers were handed over to the school. Around the same time, NT donated a batch of six older 386 PCs. Early in 2000, Durbar High School made contact with CAN, The Computer Association of Nepal, which is a non-profit organization formed to act in an advisory capacity on IT policy, but also is involved in IT education kindly agreed to support the Durbar High School project through its membership. Also, Alan Tuladhar of Unlimited Numedia has been very kind in providing Nepalese typing software, E-mail services and free internet access. In this way, Durbar High School is flourishing its project of giving computer education to its student.
Shree Mahendra National Secondary School
According to lanternprojects.org/projects.htm, Shree Mahendra National Secondary School was established in Bikram Sambat 2013, i.e. 1956 AD. This is a government school run by community. Right now there are 472 students: 207 girls and 265 boys. This is a poor government school. The physical condition of this school is really poor. There are 12 rooms in the school building, which was renovated by the help of local people. Out of those, 10 rooms are used as classrooms to study from class levels 1-10 and two rooms are used for an office room and a teacher's room. There are neither books for extra curricular reading nor materials for any practical experiment.
The school does not have a single computer. Even those students who do know how to use a computer cannot work on a computer. The school headmaster requested a computer for the school so that students can learn some thing about computers. Thus, in most of the government school due to the lack of the required material, equipments and human resources, students are still deprived of getting computer education.

Computer in Education
Kiran Ratna Sakya states us that the curriculum for High School was changed from DOS based to Windows based. A new thinking from the curriculum department, but again, a bit late. This has been taken into consideration the condition of the schools having computers. They started computer training some 8 years ago with computers ranging from XT to 286s. In order for them not to be obsolete, the department has not defined which version of Windows. One can use Windows 3.1 or Windows 95/98, with no questions to be asked on the topic of Windows. The other subjects are Word, Excel and QBasic.The computer courses are however run only in private schools and not in the government run schools. The government run schools have difficulty in sustaining itself. In the higher education such as 10+2, there is no fixed course content. They conduct the most popular programs such as JAVA, C++ and the like.

Individual efforts in giving quality computer education
Himanchal High School of Nangi Myagdi, one of the most remote underdeveloped village, now has 15 computers. Mahabir Pun, an educational pioneer tried to break the cycle of poverty in his mountain village of Nangi by taking it into the computer age. Having founded Himanchal High School, he sees the internet as the way to improve the children's education. He installed two small hydro-generators in the stream near by village for power for the school. He collected some used computer parts in the US and took them to the village and assembled the parts in wooden boxes, building 14 computers. The main purpose behind this idea is to create jobs for the students. The internet has been a great help for Nangi, even though they do not have a connection there. Through wireless network, he brought Internet to a place where there's no telephone service. Around 80 people there now have NepalWireless.net accounts. Students from the local school email friends abroad. Villagers of Paudwar and Nangi also use it to run income-generating projects such as yakfarming. The project management committee communicates through emails and conducts NetMeetings with yakherders. They operate laptops and computers assembled in Myagdi even though they have no formal education. Visit http://www.himanchal.org
From the above article, it clearly indicates the need of an individual effort for better computer education in the Nepali schools, especially those financially weak i.e. government schools. IT expertise and professors can contribute their efforts in giving training to the teachers and at the same time to the students with IT skills and knowledge related to computer education. Those who are from IT background or got some old parts left can donate these poor schools so that they can collect other parts and assemble to set up the new computer in the school.
Thus, an educational pioneer like Mahabir Pun can do a lot for the Nepali schools in computer education. Persons like him must be greatly honoured by the country.

Purpose / Factors:
The main purpose of giving computer education in schools is to make students familiar and computer-literate i.e. able to use computer by giving the basic knowledge of computer. It makes them understand the use and importance of computer in the present world. Students can be of high quality and competitive in markets after its study and able to create safe future. Effective learning through the means of computer can be enhanced.
And finally, to produce IT manpower of various capacities such as instructor, facilitators and software programmer.

Balancing Factors
The most balancing factor for computer education is the effective government plan and policy. Despite the government has introduced IT policy 2000, still the rules, regulations and facilities has not been implemented in the proper way. Also IT policy misses a lot of things to be implemented such as proposed made by subcommittees and CAN (Computer Association of Nepal), action plans for Nepal’s promotion to global IT.

Recommendation
· Computer education should be made compulsory subject
· Motivate the dedicated students to learn computer education
· Forum for Computer Education in Schools
· Compulsory computer knowledge for new teacher’s recruitment
· Necessary scholarships should be given for poor and deserving students from remote areas for higher studies in information technology.


Conclusion
A country or an individual cannot become successful without computer education, an IT. To progress, it is absolutely necessary to examine the environment, which would include the state of technology, availability and quality of both material and human resources. In short, every project needs to be individually studied.
The different schools have different needs in terms of infrastructure, investment and methodology. Forum for Computer Education in School is the most to be established. In association with this, schools together can share resources aimed at making education simple and effective. The Forum have to work towards empowering teachers and students with IT skills, which in turn provides them with learning opportunities that are practical and easy.

Work Cited
dhs.edu.np/pages/computin.htm,10:45, Wednesday 02 ,2006
himanchal.org, 10:45,Tuesday 01, 2006
His Majesty’s Government IT Policy, B.S. 2057
lanternprojects.org/projects.htm, 10:15, Tuesday 01, 2006
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1606580.stm, 10:00, Tuesday 01,2006
Poudel, BhesRaj Computer Capsule, Part:1, pub. Sagha Prakashan, January 2006
Sakya,Kiran Ratna Current Status and Issues of IT Standardization Policy?, Managing Director, Sama Computers International Pvt. Ltd.)
Subba, Rajib IT Scenario of Nepal,Paper: IT HRD Policy and Strategy Paper for National Planning Commission, HMG, 2000.Publication: Cyber Post.
URL: WWW.NEPALIT.COM
The Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary 1.0, 1992
Warhadpande, A N Forum for Computer Education in Schools in association with Indiatimes,IT in schools in the new millennium
wavemag.com.np,”Digital Nepal”, 10:30, Wednesday 2. 2006

Other Sources
- Field visit to Creation Academy and Merryland Public High School