CONCEPT PAPER

Problem: Increase in SLC dropout due to lack of library in my village

 

Introduction:

The library is the storehouse of books. It also provides various other sources of information for reading in its premises as well as borrowing for home. A library is a place where you not only acquire information about different subjects but also maintain the history and the true reality that is deeply hidden in time. Library links various cultures since library books in different languages are accessible that help us understand the world internationally and are liberal because they do not discriminate because they provide free education.

The unbroken information in libraries makes it easier for anyone to start their studies at a special stage. The students won't have to be forced to stick to a chosen coursebook. They will have access to additional alternate research materials. This will assist SLC appearing students to study from home as well.

Need for study:

The records obtained from the survey performed by District Education committee in coordination with respective municipalities show that more than 40% of students drop out of their high school or don't continue their education after high school at all.  Most of them drop out because of failure in some subjects due to lacking proper study materials and facilities. Some of them drop out because of gender inequalities, low family income, and the schools far away from their home. 

Talking about my village, there is only a high school to study at. The private schools, being expensive cannot be affordable to all. As well as the road infrastructure of my village is not too good. Buses cannot be drove during monsoon due to seasonal floods. This makes other students, traveling on foot or bicycle also abort school which is one of the reasons for an increasing number of dropouts before appearing SLC. 

From this, we can conclude that the students in my village needed proper study materials as well as guidance to continue learning during difficult times. Hence, the solution to this problem could be the establishment of a well maintained and managed library available for all. This would make the students from different sorts of family backgrounds study together as well as for free.

 Background:

The authorities of Nepal has been focusing on improving schooling sectors as well as amplify the literacy rate of the nation. As per the Ministry of FInance’s (MOF) ‘Economic Survey’ 2018-2019, In the academic year 2018/19, net enrollment into the primary level (grade 1-5) has reached 96.5 percent, into the basic level (1-8) 92.7 percent, and into the secondary level (9-12) 46.4 percent. In grade 1, the net enrollment rate (children with 5 years completed) has reached 96.3 percent. The retention rate up to grade 10 has stood at 58.5 percent, and up to grade 12 at 22.2 percent. Other monetary assessments are also been done by the government of Nepal for the improvement of government schools in terms of facilities. In addition to this, the government is providing scholarships to needy students for their education. Despite such actions taken by the government in coordination with the District education committee, these kinds of stuff are not enough for the students from very remote areas where there are fewer government schools, that also being far away from home. 

As per my personal survey and evaluation during the lockdown, I have found that students are in most cases deprived of adequate materials which purpose the increasing number of dropouts from the rural parts of Nepal like in my village. The insufficient textbooks and the materials demotivate the students as it increases the challenge level for solving some simpler problems too. Since the students from my village can't manage to pay for private materials, they can be supplied with the publicly accessible materials which assist in boosting the morale of the students too. This brings us to the conclusion of the need for the library more than ever. Libraries help in making a thinking society, a society that creates innovators, makers, and even revolutionaries.

   

Objectives:

The concept paper aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. To understand the reasons for the increase in the number of dropouts and reduce it.
2. To support the students with course books, newspapers, magazines, books, manuscripts, maps, the internet, and so on.
3. To prevent and promote the culture of reading books and articles.
4. To establish the resources in such a way that the local people can access the library for their benefit.
5. To motivate the students to follow their passion boosting up their confidence level.

Research Hypothesis or Questions:

1. Will the teenagers get benefited from the new method of accessing the materials?
2. Will the library improve the literacy rate and help control the dropout rate?
3. Can the locals be co-operative enough to use and maintain the library?
4. Will the locals ensure the security of the library after its establishment?

Research Methodology:

This study intends to use the following methods for research on the establishment of the library.

-Surveys

Quantitative data can be obtained by performing the survey and questionnaire with the students. For this, I and my team will cover the area of my entire municipality with 8 government schools and 7 private schools. According to the Office of Kanakai municipal, this area has a population density of 509.4 square kilometers with a total population of around forty thousand.

-Observations 

Our team will observe the availability and usage of resources for both the students and teachers in both private and government schools. We will also be observing the teaching standards as well as the teacher-student relationship in these schools.

-Interviews

The interview is an important data collection strategy enabling the interviewer and the interviewees to have one to one communication.

-Data Analysis 

We will evaluate the data after observation and interviews to draw a firm conclusion about the library's efficiency in controlling the rate of dropouts.

-Review and conclusion

The study is expected to be concluded after the compilation of the data collected via surveys and interviews. If the library aids in the decline of dropouts in our village, we will recommend the District Education Committee as well as other local governing bodies to establish and maintain a proper library in their areas and help fewer the dropouts.

Research Timeline:

The Project is predicted to be completed in 25 weeks. The activity’s length for each section of the research/report is indicated as:

      Research Sections                                                                             Duration                                  

• Title                                                                                                       1 week   
•  Introduction                                                                                      1 week         
• Background                                                                                       3 Weeks
• Objectives                                                                                           1 Week
• Research Questions                                                                         1 Week 
• Research Methodology                                                                  13 Weeks
• Data Analysis, interpretations, and discussions                       3 Weeks 
• Conclusion and Recommendation                                             1 Week
• Reviewing for final work submission                                          1 Week

References

Ministry of Finance (2019). Retrieved from https://mof.gov.np/uploads/document/file/compiled%20economic%20Survey%20english%207-25_20191111101758.pdf

Asia. (n.d.). Retrieved December 20, 2020, from https://www.citypopulation.de/php/nepal-mun-admin.php?adm2id=0413

Enrollment affected, dropout rate to go up. (2015, June 24). Retrieved December 20, 2020, from https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/enrollment-affected-dropout-rate-to-go-up/    

    

Consult, V. (2015). Status of SLC dropouts and identifying ways to engaging students in co-curricular activities. Retrieved from http://doe.gov.np/assets/uploads/files/cca724d2af543017ab39a85e0b20abdf.pdf