Kathmandu, September 8

The 37th National Education Day and 50th International Literacy Day-2016 were observed across the country today by organising various programmes.

Early this morning, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari conferred Nepal Bidhyabhusan medals class ‘A’ on 190 students, who received PhD degree from various national and international universities, class ‘B’ on 81 students who topped in various subjects in master’s level from various national universities and class ‘C’ to 15 students who topped in bachelor’s level.

Similarly, she also conferred Nepal Chhaatra Bidhyapadak for bachelor’s level on 26 female students and Nepal Chhaatra Bidhyapadak for proficiency certificate level on four female students.

Earlier, the Ministry of Education had formed a 199-member main organising committee under the coordination of Education Minister Dhani Ram Paudel and 12 sub-committees under the main committee to organise various programmes to mark the day.

In the afternoon, Education Minister Paudel and Minister of State for Education Dhanamaya BK (Khanal) jointly awarded cash prizes, shields, flags and certificates to outstanding schools both community and private schools and various constituent campuses under Tribhuvan University and other universities.

Likewise, winners of inter-school running race competition within the Valley were also awarded with cash prizes and certificates.

Education Minister Paudel and state minister BK released Educational Souvenir- 2073 and special edition of Literacy-2073 on the occasion.

The slogan for this year’s national literacy day is ‘Investment in useful education for building prosperous nation.’ Speaking at the programme, Minister Paudel stressed on increasing investment in education.

“Education should be developed in such a way that it could be linked with labour, production, science and other sectors,” adding, “Higher education should be research-oriented.” He further informed that government was aiming to make Nepal a fully literate nation by 2017.

“Currently 29 districts have already been declared fully literate while we are planning to declare other 30 districts fully literate within this fiscal,” said Minister Paudel.