Kathmandu, June 5

With the Education Bill (eighth amendment), which was endorsed by the Parliament yesterday, bringing education up to Grade XII under secondary education, the national level school termination examinations will now will held in Grade XII instead of Grade X.

The bill has divided divided school education into two levels  basic education (early childhood education up to Grade VIII) and secondary education (Grade IX to XII).

Earlier, the early child development education was not regarded as school education and the teachers involved in teaching small children were called ECD volunteers.

As per the new law, the national level School Leaving Certificate examinations will now be held only at the regional level.

The SLC board under the Office of the Controller of Examinations conducted SLC examinations so far, but from now onwards a new entity National Examination Board will be established to conduct school termination exams in Grade XII.

The 13-member NEB will be chaired by a person nominated by the government from among people possessing a master’s degree from a reputed university and with at least 12 years of experience in the education sector.

The education secretary would be the vice-chairman of NEB.

As per the education bill, a recommendation committee headed by chairperson of the Public Service Commission and comprising at least a woman educationist and two persons nominated by the education ministry will recommend the candidate for the post of NEB chairperson.

The government will appoint the NEB chairperson on the recommendation of the committee.

Similarly, the bill also addresses the demand of temporary teachers, who have long been fighting for permanent status. Temporary teachers will now be allowed to fight for permanent post or accept retirement with a golden handshake.

The bill also envisages formation of National Education Council to advise the government on education related issues and policies. District Education Council will also be formed at district level to draft plans and policies for development of the education sector.

The National Education Council will be chaired by education minister while representatives from National Planning Commission, University Grants Commission, vice-chancellors from various universities, secretaries from ministers, educationists, teachers’ unions, guardians and others will remain its members.

The new law also envisions formation of Educational Quality Testing Centre to test the quality of education.