GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION and RESEARCH in NEPAL: CHALLENGES, STATUS and OPTIONS Kabi Prasad Pokhrel, Phd Reader, CERID, T.U., Nepal [email protected]
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Kabi Prasad Pokhrel... GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN NEPAL: CHALLENGES, STATUS/39 GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN NEPAL: CHALLENGES, STATUS AND OPTIONS Kabi Prasad Pokhrel, PhD Reader, CERID, T.U., Nepal [email protected] Abstract This paper discusses the development trends of Nepalese Geography and presents the status of geography teaching and research activities at university level. Facts and fi gures, used for discussion were assembled from the review of available geographic literature. Findings of the paper clearly indicate that there is an urgent need to redefi ne its directive principles in its research goals, teaching styles and social relevance. The author opines that Nepalese Geographers have to disseminate and recreate the existing knowledge of geographical science and adopt micro approach for the application of our integrated knowledge to the promotion of human welfare. Key Words: Geographic research, geotechnologies, social relevance, climate change adaptation, geopolitical relationship. INTRODUCTION Since Nepal is in a state of restructuring movement, the need is great for geography education and The dynamics of globalization have strong spatial geotechnologies i.e. geographic information system- implications and geographic dimensions. As we GIS, remote sensing-RS, global positioning system- embark in our journey through the 21st century GPS and other specialists to apply the knowledge we experience the complexity of a world changed and innovation to transgress both disciplinary and through the forces of globalization environmental sectoral boundaries which are ever changing through change and ever growing challenges of livelihoods. the driving forces of global change. These growing Confl icts and terrorism are actively shaping the challenges, opportunities and options require geopolitical relationships among people and places integrative and multidisciplinary approaches to all over the world (Richardson, 2003). Environmental research and location-specifi c education that can problems and natural disasters know no political be possible by incorporating geography knowledge boundaries. Ecosystem healing requires the in school and collage curriculum and research area participation of countries, nations, and communities with integrative problem-solving capabilities of from many political, economic, and social origins. newly developed geotechnologies. It shows that With increased international migration, economic our national education policy and programs need to integration, cultural interaction, and pressures move toward advancing multidisciplinary research of globalization can fracture communities along and education, incorporating within its geographic ethnic, cultural, and religious divides. All these studies both the physical and human perspectives ever increasing issues are begun to call for more at school and university level. For geography integrative approaches to research and education with its GIS technologies, thriving as it does at for understanding the marvelous diversity that the intersection of the physical and social sciences geography education can richly provide. In light of as an inherently interdisciplinary discipline. This these realities geographic research and education trend within the broader research and applications are essential to achieving better interregional and communities generate many fruitful opportunities intercultural understanding along with the strong that need to respond effectively by the state policy feeling of nationality for national unity and its and action of plans. Thus, the technical knowledge implications for addressing economic, natural and theoretical insight of geography science need to resource, and other social and political disparities. extend both in vertical as well as horizontal linkage Many cross-disciplinary researches and societal to promote public welfare in relation to addressing solutions indicate that the analytical power of socio-ecological issues by strong tie with the geographic ideas, techniques and perspectives need philosophy of live and let live. to be incorporated into the curricula of school level (up to grade 12) as core and compulsory subject and major discipline in university level. 40/ The Third Pole METHODS AND MATERIALS remained the borrower of ideas from USA, UK and India. It did not experience any paradigmatic The paper is based on secondary sources of upheaval and crisis. A major share of geographic information for tracing out the development trends research in Nepal is similar to Indian context likely of Nepalese Geography education and research duplicate copy of some pioneer works in urban both at school and university level. Issues, options geography, population and settlement geography and obstacles of the development of geography and agricultural geography. Therefore, the science in Nepal have been analyzed by using methodological root of contemporary geographic content analysis methods. Thus, the paper is more research in Nepal is the infl uence of Indian, descriptive and qualitative in nature. American and even British geographers. Up to mid 1980s geography was recognized as one of the core and compulsory subject at secondary school PRESENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES level and Nepal Parichaya (An Introduction to Nepalese Geography, though not very old in the Nepal) as a national geography content was taught global context, has traveled 50 years long journey at certifi cate level. The students in any streams since the establishment of Tribhuvan University became literate in history and geography of Nepal in 1960s. In the education history of Nepal it was and earned the basic knowledge that need to a placed as a compulsory and core subject since the conscious citizen to learning to think spatially with time of Raja Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh when strong feeling of nationality. It is because of the the book on Geography of Nepal was written. It geographical knowledge by its nature. It is easy to formally included in the school curricula since the understand the man and place relation logically by time of SLC Examination Board establishment in dealing man -environment relationship focusing on 1934. Within the framework of formal education why things are where they are and what processes at higher level studies geography started in Tri- are responsible for the changes in the pattern of Chandra Collage in 1947 as an academic discipline development and distribution. in Nepal. Thus, geography was taught at university In the history of national development of the level with traditional lines as a descriptive science country, geographical contribution is great and since mid sixties. But it remained narrowed Nepalese Geographers had contributed in different and receiving higher studies only viewed as an capacities since the beginning of the 1970s and input to further teaching rather than research gained honorable place in national institutions like (Manandher et.al., 1978). Onward seventies, the National Planning Commission (Vice-chairman-4 department of Geography which consisted of and Member-2), Ministries, and senior advisors in number of western- trained geographers started various national and international organizations. the teaching of discipline in little bit modern Nepalese geography did multiyear academic lines. However, research works in geography progress since 1970 to 1990 and made remarkable are very few even today. Consequently, there is a progress in teaching and research and had continued tendency to borrow its philosophical impressed to the development policy particularly in foundations and intellectual rigor from the West the regional development approach in the country. and India for dealing its evolution. Before 1965 Geographers showed their greater competence almost all Nepalese geographers earned their post and confi dence in the use of both of quantitative graduate degrees from the Indian universities such and qualitative methods of analysis and synthesis as University of Patna, Banaras Hindu University, with strong concern for dealing the problems of University of Kolkata, University of Allahabad and development and planning in an interdisciplinary University of Gorakhpur. Koirala (2010) raised the frame. Therefore, Nepalese Geographers had issues of methodological contribution of Nepalese occupied key positions in University, National geographers by taking into consideration their PhD. Planning Commission and other governmental research themes and incorporated methodologies he organizations. mentioned that most of the Nepalese geographers earned their Ph.D. degree from Indian Universities In spites of a long journey, of more than half a (46.7%), followed by American Universities (23.3%), century, Nepalese geography has lost its gravity in UK (10%), and Austria (3.3%). Onward 1980 both of educating people in national geography and Geography department of TU started to award policy assessment after 1990s. It suffers by several PhD. degree to Nepalese and foreign scholars in dilemma and debates concerning its disciplinary Nepal. Since 1980s, the Geography Department has aspects, expectation of society and curricular issues, awarded PhD. degree to 20 percent geographers. vertical linkage of courses from school to university However, it is lacking the theory building based level, and scientifi c research. Number of students in on indigenous experiences and methodological geography classroom are declined both at school and inquiries. Therefore, Nepalese geography has been college level. It is due to the lacking