Minister seeks more budget for education sector

Kathmandu, August 2:

Minister for Education and Sports Pradeep Nepal today said the government should allocate more than 20 per cent of the total budget for education sector and prioritise the sector for development of the country.

Inaugurating the 10th anniversary of Nepal Education Foundation (NEF), Nepal said the government had allocated Rs 28.39 billion for the education sector for this fiscal, although more than what was allocated last year, is still less than 20 per cent of the total budget.

“This means that the education sector does not come under government’s priority,” he said.

“The government should allocate as much budget to education sector as it has allocated to the purchase of arms and ammunition if education sector is to be developed,” Minister Nepal further said.

“Weapons only kill, whereas education creates peaceful, developed and inclusive Nepal,” he maintained. He also requested the public to donate some money to provide education to the students in Humla, Jumla and many other remote areas of Nepal, where children are forced to stay away from the schools just because they don’t have enough money to pay for books and stationary.

Umesh Shrestha, chairman of the foundation, said the humans are the most valuable resource of the 21st century.

“Let’s make the country richer by providing quality education to the students,” he added.

Prof Dr Sriram Bhagat Mathe, founder executive chairman of NEF, said students must work for national interest rather than personal interest. “There is unhealthy competition in education sector,” Dr Mathe said.