Kathmandu, June 20:

People associated with the education sector have called on the government to restructure the entire education system.

Their views come at a time when the Ministry of Education and Sports is looking for a suitable alternative to the Company Act that has been governing the schools.

Speaking at the interaction on ‘Alternatives of Company Act on Educational institutions’ today, an educationist, Bimal Phunyal, said, “The state should, first of all, restructure the entire education system after holding consultations with all stakeholders.” The goal of Education For All (EFA) cannot be met without restructuring the education system,” he said.

“The state should have worked on the Right to Education Bill before introducing the Company Act.”

“The Company Act can be enforced in the higher education sector so as to reduce the number of students going abroad,” Phunyal said.

Bhoj Bahadur Shah, vice-president of the Private And Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal, said, “It is the time to concentrate on the restructuring of the education system as a whole.”

“Handover of schools to the community trust cannot be an alternative to the Company Act,” he said. Suprabat Bhandari, president of the Nepal National Parents’ Association, said, “A separate Education Act can be formulated to govern the education sector.”

Home Kumar Thapa, acting president of the Institutional Schools Teachers’ Union- Nepal, said that the state should formulate a new Education Policy.

Geeta Rana, adviser to the National Private And Boarding Schools’ Organisation, said, “The Company Act governs registration of schools and business houses. It does not issue directives to schools.” “Schools registered under the Company Act have to follow the Education Act ultimately,” she said.