Prospects
Ample Libraries
ODL by its nature carries promising features such as
Libraries in Nepal have grown phenomenally
egalitarianism, equality of educational opportunities,
especially after the restoration of Democracy in
flexible curricula (Peters). Consequently, the mode
1991. Now, we live the condition neither of a group
bears significant potential to widen access to higher
of young students in 1930 who were charged of
education which in Nepalese context has appeared
sedition as they applied for permission to start a
very tough due to various constrains. The following
public library (the Sarawasti Public Library) nor
elements appear to create noteworthy scope for
of students who suffered in 1960 when the king
ODL.
dismissed Nepal’s first elected government and closed public libraries established in the fifties. As the
Availability of Learners
study of Koirala and Bird has outlined, post 1991 has provided appropriate environment for, “re-opening
The inability of the Nepali government to tackle the
of a number of rural community libraries which were
consequences of diversity, whether prevalent in the
closed during monarchy”. Similarly, a large number
form of extreme economic disparity or geographical
of INGOs such as Room to Read, and Read Nepal
inaccessibility or socio-political hierarchies, had
have been asking for the government’s permission
stood as a major barrier for a large population
to “support community libraries”. Consequently,
in appropriate access to education. Education
the number of libraries in Nepal has increased from
opportunities were inappropriately decentralized, if
about 400 in 1990 to about 800 in 2003 (Shrestha
not totally centralized, and thus any individual other
qtd in Koirala and Bird 120). The quality and quantity
than well-to-do economic status could not get
of library has further been enhanced both by INGOs
enrolled for higher qualification.
like Rural Development and Education (READ) and Room to Read, and by foreign mission libraries such
A very paradoxical situation ensnares these people
as the American Library, British Council Learning
now due to the government’s special provisions: they
Centre, and Bharat Sanskritic Kendra.
have opportunities but not the required qualifications. The situation, thereby, produces foundational reason
Though all the libraries, especially the ones located
to demand for educational qualification which
in rural areas, might not have ample and appropriate
does not look viable through traditional mode of
books, their infrastructure can be used for ODL.
education. The availability of learners, due to this necessity, is further increased at the acceleration of
Contribution from Diaspora
peace process. As a large number of cadres who had joined the Maoist revolution after 1996 leaving
One of the most optimistic aspects in ODL comes
their studies are now in need of education as they
from the promise of contribution from Nepali
have been placed back to the society.
diaspora. The diaspora, like the population of this type elsewhere, undergo ambivalent position: on
The two-fold availability, along with other elements
the one hand, they meagerly wish to return to their
such as outbound mobility of students for foreign
home country but on the other hand, they wish to
universities, would be productive factors in pulling
see the country prosper and plan to contribute
learners to the ODL mechanism.
without returning. Rasali, Adhikari and Dhakal have fairly outlined the nature of potential input from the Diaspora due to their empathy for people at home: there are a sizable number of highly qualified academics and professionals among Nepalese
18 | THE EKLAVYAN