How Susweni Village in Papua Is Fighting to Keep Education Alive

In Susweni Village, deep in the heart of Papua, children walk hours through dense jungles to get to a makeshift school where teachers are few and resources scarcer. Education here isn’t guaranteed—it’s a daily battle. I’m writing about Susweni’s struggle because education should not be a privilege tied to one’s location. Hearing how young dreams

I’m writing about Susweni’s struggle because education should not be a privilege tied to one’s location. Hearing how young dreams get delayed or dimmed due to a lack of facilities hits me deeply. In India, I’ve seen similar challenges in remote hamlets, which makes this story even more universal. Understanding the hurdles these children face—travel, poor infrastructure, outdated materials, and irregular teachers—shows us how much more needs to be done to make education fair. Their persistence, against such odds, is a reminder that learning doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. Growing up, I often took school for granted; writing about Susweni makes me value that privilege and reflect on how communities can rally to change futures.

The Everyday Reality of Learning in Susweni

In this rugged terrain, children often wake early to trek muddy paths rather than sit in a classroom. When they arrive, they face:

A single, crowded hut used as a school
Limited textbooks and torn notebooks
Teachers who rotate or arrive late due to transport issues
No electricity for evening study or digital learning

Sometimes classes are held under trees or in villagers’ homes when it rains or the hut is damaged.

Community Steps in Where the System Falls Short

Despite all this, the village hasn’t given up. Local parents and elders:

Pool funds to repair what they can of the school building
Volunteer their time to teach basic literacy
Ask distant NGOs for help or second-hand books
Encourage older students to become peer mentors for younger ones

These small acts show how much value the community places on learning—and that progress begins with shared effort.

Broader Implications of Educational Gaps

When children miss out on consistent, quality schooling, it directly affects:

Impact Area	Consequence in Susweni
Future livelihoods	Limited job options, reliance on subsistence farming
Health awareness	Poor knowledge of hygiene and nutrition
Civic participation	Reduced ability to engage with wider society

Educated youth could help bring healthcare, sustainable farming, or local governance to Susweni—but first they need school.

Why Delhi’s New School Fee Bill Puts Education Before Profit

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has unveiled the ‘Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Bill, 2025’, making it clear that education is not meant to be a commercial venture. I’m writing about this because education affects every family in Delhi—and when school fees rise without checks, it becomes a burden that

I’m writing about this because education affects every family in Delhi—and when school fees rise without checks, it becomes a burden that many parents struggle to bear. This new legislation stands out as a public stand with parents, not institutions. It brings much-needed transparency and oversight to private school fee hikes, a topic that’s been fraught with unregulated increases for years. For families, educators, and policymakers, this signals a shift toward fairness and accountability in education. Highlighting the key features of the bill and its impact helps all of us understand how schools should truly serve students, not profits.

What the Bill Brings to the Table

Transparent Fee Approvals: Now, all unaided private schools—wherever they are located—must get government approval before raising fees. Previously, only those on government-allocated land were covered.
Regulatory Mechanism: A three-tier system of committees will assess and approve fee hikes, ensuring they’re justified, fair, and transparent.
Penalties for Violations: Schools that bypass the process or charge arbitrary hikes will face strict penalties, reinforcing accountability.

A Departure from Past Practices

Delhi’s AAP government had little success with enforcing fee regulation despite court rulings. Now, the BJP administration has chosen to back parents directly. CM Gupta noted that this is the first time a state government has formally stood alongside parents in this fight.

What It Means for Parents and Schools

Stakeholder	What Changes
Parents	Greater predictability and fairness in school fees
Schools	Mandated justification for fee increases
Students	Better access to education without financial strain

Schools will now need to justify every fee increment clearly and in writing. Parents must be informed well in advance, avoiding sudden financial surprises.