Absence of standard syllabuses is one of the stark anomalies in Nepal’s educational system, especially those in the schools across the country. While the low quality of education in government schools has led to most of the parents sending their children to private schools, which are more expensive, most of these schools are commercially motivated instead of serving its main function — provide quality education. Besides, the absence of standard syllabuses has led to schools prescribing books randomly to serve their commercial interest. For instance, some of the private schools in the capital prescribe over a dozen books for students in primary grades. Students at the higher level fare worse.

While students in government schools complain about the present state of the quality of education they receive for lack of standard textbooks, many private schools in the country have been making the job of prescribing books yet another source of income by overburdening tender minds. It is not the number of books that improves the quality of education but appropriate books and better teaching methodology. Moreover, the government authorities need to revise the textbooks and course contents in government schools at less intervals than five years to keep abread of the latest trends. To improve the quality of education in the country, the government has to continually improve the quality of textbooks to match the educational requirements of students, particulalry in government schools.