CHITWAN, JUNE 17

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has stressed on the need of uplifting the quality of education and management to create an environment wherein people will see their future within the country.

Addressing to the Fourth Convocation Ceremony of the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) here today, PM Dahal insisted on raising the quality of education and sending out a message to the youth that there is future within the country itself.

'Utilize the skills and knowledge that you have learned for sustainable development along with the positive thinking of envisioning a future within the country itself and with the love for the motherland,' he said, pointing out the need of laying special emphasis on enhancing the quality of education and management for creating an environment of hope and future within the country itself.

Stating that he was happy to learn the number of students enrolling in Agriculture Science and of those applying for Veterinary Science has been increasing, and that initiatives have been made to increase cent per cent enrollment in the Veterinary subject, the Prime Minister called on the technical universities to utilize their entire capacity and resources in increasing the production and productivity by developing innovative technologies through research.

He also expressed his happiness over the AFU scientists developing technologies as buffalo breeding and wheat varieties that can withstand heat, among others. The Prime Minister believed that the University will formulate and implement plans for expansion and strengthening of campus and the agriculture science centre as per the need.

He also expressed the government's commitment to providing support in managing the required human resources for the university in the coming days.

'The University has been constructing the academic buildings for faculties, colleges and science centre, for integrated research laboratory and the bio-safety laboratory. These constructions should be completed at the earliest,' he said and urged the University to formulate and implement a 10-year strategic plan and revise its curriculum to make the AFU's academic and research, and extension works of high quality and timely.

The Prime Minister underlined the need to bring transformative changes in people's lives as per the political accomplishments.

He took time to claim that the government is continuously working to increase production, productivity and create more jobs. 'The policies, programmes, and the budget for the upcoming fiscal year have significantly prioritsed the agricultural and information-technology sectors.'

On the occasion, he recalled that he was once a student of this college.

Sikkim Skill University's vice-chancellor Pro Dr Ajay Kumar Mishra highlighted the contribution of the AFU in the enhancement of the education system. As hinted the possibility of cooperation between the two universities.

According to AFU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Punya Raj Regmi, a total of 1059 students (Bachelor's, Master's and PhD programmes) took part in the convocation ceremony.