Community School Education under Threat: The Impact of Monkey and Wild Boar Infestation and Rural Out Migration in Mangalsen Municipality, Nepal

Abstract

The problem of human–wildlife conflict has become a serious issue that affects rural livelihoods and sustainable development in hill districts of Nepal. This study aimed at assessing the effect of monkey and wild boar infestation and migration from the rural areas on community school education in Mangalsen Municipality, Achham District, Nepal. A qualitative case study design was adopted and purposive sampling technique was used to select headteachers, teachers, parents, pupils, chairpersons of the wards, agricultural technicians and municipal education officials. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, observations and document reviews, which included official migration records, Integrated Educational Management Information System (IEMIS) data and were analysed using thematic analysis. Persistent infestation by monkeys and wild boars has found to have caused low agricultural productivity, low rural livelihoods and also increased out-migration rates. Official records revealed that out-migration (169 households; 521 persons) far outweighed in-migration (13 households; 31 persons) and the IEMIS data indicated that a decrease of 1,294 students occurred from the 2081 to 2082 academic year. Other social and psychological impacts on children and rural communities were also mentioned, as well as the potential for migration to lead to a decrease in student enrolment, irregular student attendance, diminished engagement of parents, difficulties for teachers in managing the students, school consolidations, and fears about the sustainability of community schools. It was recommended that participants consider integrated wildlife management, assistance for sustaining a farmer's livelihood, planning educational programmes for migration, using technology in learning, improving teacher deployment and strengthening intergovernmental, interschool and community cooperation. The study concluded that infestation by monkey and wild boar is not only an environmental and agricultural problem but also a major educational problem which indirectly poses a threat to the community schools due to the out-migration of the rural population. It suggests policies that need to be integrated in the context of wildlife management, rural livelihoods, migration, and community school education and to improve the sustainability of community school education in Nepal's hill municipalities.