Kathmandu, January 19:

Minister for Education and Sports, Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, has stressed the need to produce manpower that can compete in the global market.

He also stressed the need to improve the quality of education in community schools and bridge the huge gap between private and community schools.

Speaking at a function held to mark the sixth national general assembly of the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal (PABSON), the minister said, “As Nepal is still lacking in technological advancement, capacity of students has not been exposed. The education system should be changed keeping the global market in mind.”

“The new educational policy will be formulated on the basis of consensus among eight parties.”

Shankar Pokhrel, a CPN-UML leader, said the right to school education (up to grade X) should be recognised as a fundamental right. Arjun Narsingh KC, a leader of the Nepali Congress, said, “An individual has the right to decide which kind of education is better for him.”

“Partnership should be forged between community schools and private schools to enhance the quality of education in communities and rural areas.”

Lal Bahadur BC of the All Nepal Teachers’ Association said, “Over 50 per cent of people in Nepal are illiterate. The new education policy should focus on making them literate.”