Action plan for education reform made public

Kathmandu, October 6

Education Minister Dhaniram Poudel today made public a 19-point action plan for reforms in the education sector.

Speaking at a programme organised by Education Journalists Network to exchange Dashain greetings, Minister Poudel said the ministry was preparing to form a High Level National Education Commission to restructure the education system and formulate socialist education policy.

“Formation of National Education Commission is one of the top priority areas of the education ministry,” he said, adding that along with the eighth amendment to the Education Act, many issues needed to be addressed through the Education Regulations.

“Former education minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel had formed a task force on July 10 to recommend amendments to the education regulations within four months. The task force will submit its recommendations by November 10,” he said.

He also expressed his commitment to table the Higher Education Bill in the Parliament.

“Similarly, the process of establishing at least one medical college in each of the seven provinces would also begin soon. I would also lobby for endorsement of the National Medical Education Act-2016,” he said.

Minister Poudel further said the ministry would introduce digital curriculum and colourful textbooks before the new academic session. The ministry also plans to formulate National Qualification Framework within six months, provide easy loans to private schools damaged in the earthquakes last year, draft working procedure within three months for granting loans against academic certificates, and declare all municipalities in the country fully literate.

Besides, Minister Poudel said the government would encourage employees to send their wards to government schools, expand technical training and vocational education across the country, establish Open University within two months, and award teachers helping students obtain good marks.

Commenting on the minister’s action plan, Sarita Aryal, vice president of Guardians Association of Nepal, said the action plan does not have programmes aimed at raising awareness among parents.

“Without awareness among parents, it is not possible to achieve cent percent success in the education sector,” she said, adding that the plan also did not have programmes to bring out-of-school children into the classrooms.

Nainsingh Mahar, president, Nepal Student Union, said the government had failed to come up plans to punish academic institutions charging exorbitant fee to students.