Kathmandu, January 24

Stakeholders from various sectors today stressed on providing free education to all in the primary level and recognising the contribution as well as the significance of private education sector in the School Sector Development Programme.

Speaking at an interaction organised jointly by Ministry of Education and Education Journalists Network on Sunday to collect suggestions on SSDP from people, vice-president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Hari Bhakta Sharma said primary education in the country should be made completely free.

“As the country has already adopted federalism, the government needs to make certain subjects compulsory in each federal state,” he said.

“Vocational training for school students should be launched in close collaboration with the private sector for the benefit of both students and industries,” he said, adding that the state should create employment opportunities so that students can have jobs soon after the completion of their studies.

Ranjit Acharya, member of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, said the government ought to guarantee investment safety in the education sector. He said, “The government needs to encourage investigative programmes in education and allocate certain budget for it.”

He stated that more than 1,000 unskilled and around 60 skilled Nepalis left the country in search of work each day and soon there would be shortage of human resources in the country if such trend were not stopped.

Tika Ram Sharma, executive member of Nepal Chamber of Commerce said education sector should be free from politics. “Political activities should be strictly prohibited in the academic institutions,” he said adding, “The academic calendar should also be implemented strictly.”

He urged the government to include education related to tax in the secondary level education. “Technical education should be managed properly,” he added.

Other speakers namely Lachhe Bahadur KC, president of Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal; Karna Bahadur Shahi, president of National Private and Boarding Schools Association of Nepal among others, highlighted the role institutional schools.