Barhadashi introduces new principal selection model

Bishnu Prasad Pokharel, Damak, July 22: The appointment of principals in community schools in Jhapa has long been mired in controversy due to political influence and favouritism.

Leadership selection in many schools has often been criticised for being driven by political connections rather than merit and professional competence.

Breaking away from this trend, Barhadashi Rural Municipality in Jhapa has introduced a new system under the Principal Selection and Management Procedure-2082 to ensure a merit-based process for appointing heads of community schools.

For the first time, the rural municipality has selected 16 principals through an open competition and has handed them appointment letters after they signed performance-based contracts. According to chief administrative officer Gajendra Thapaliya, candidates were assessed on multiple criteria, including academic qualifications, teaching experience, professional training, students’s academic performance in the subjects they taught, school development plans and leadership ability.

Academic qualifications carry the highest weightage of 25 marks. Under the procedure, candidates securing first division in the minimum required qualification receive 15 marks, second division 13 marks and third division 11 marks. For higher academic qualifications, first division earns 10 marks, second division eight and third division six.

Teaching experience is also worth 25 marks. Permanent teachers receive points based on their service grade, with first-class teachers earning 2.5 marks per year, second-class teachers two marks and third-class teachers 1.5 marks per year, up to a maximum of 25 marks. The procedure also evaluates candidates on several other indicators.

Multi-stakeholder selection committee The procedure ensures that the appointment of principals is not left to the discretion of a single individual or political authority.

A principal selection and management committee has been formed, chaired by the chief administrative officer. Its members include two subject experts nominated by the rural education committee, the chairperson of the concerned school management committee (or a nominated representative), and the municipality’s education officer, who serves as the member secretary.

Thapaliya said that appointment alone is not sufficient, as each selected principal must also sign a performance agreement with the municipality’s education, youth and sports section.

Under the agreement, principals are required to fulfil the targets, indicators and improvement plans outlined in the school development proposals they submitted during the selection process.

The new system has resulted in the replacement of most incumbent principals. According to Thapaliya, only three former principals met the eligibility criteria and were reappointed after successfully competing in the open selection process.

He said the initiative received support from both existing principals and teachers throughout the process.

Only after signing the performance contract are principals formally issued their appointment letters. This means securing the post is not the final achievement, fulfilling the commitments made under the contract is their primary responsibility.

The school management committee, the education, youth and sports section, and the rural education committee will jointly monitor and evaluate each principal’s performance on a regular basis.

Rural municipality chair Debindra Prasad Chamlagain said such a results-based management system is rarely practised at the local level and is expected to ensure accountability alongside greater authority for school principals.