Minister Paudel- We need to reorient education system

Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Paudel has said Nepal's efforts are geared towards reorienting all levels and structures of education for the transformation of the society built on social justice, peace, prosperity, equity and women rights.

In his address to the 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Education Ministers Conference jointly organised by the UNESCO, UNICEF and the Thailand Government going on in Bangkok, the Minister expressed his hope that the event would be able to find a sustainable pathway towards the attainment of Education 2030/SDG and to address the current and emerging challenges that the region was collectively facing by reorienting the education structures and approaches to the needs of the region.

He took time to highlight the need of launching comprehensive reforms to address learning crisis which include measures such as conducive legal framework and clear procedures, customized curriculum that safeguard the core learning of children, allocation of additional budget, and development of ICT based learning materials.

 “Back in our home, education is enshrined as a fundamental right of every citizen in the Constitution. We are preparing to launch the School Education Sector Plan (ESP 2022-2030) from July 2012, which among others, aims to strengthen the resilience of our education system by mainstreaming conflict and disaster risk reduction measures into our education policies, programmes, curricula and pedagogy,” he apprised the session.

“We aim to enhance emergency preparedness and response capacities of education authorities and stakeholders at all levels of government and protect those who are on the verge of marginalization and exclusion.”

As he explained, Nepal has enacted the Free and Compulsory Education Act -2018 and formulated the National Education Policy -2019 to implement the constitutional rights to compulsory and free basic education up to grade 8 and free secondary education up to grade 12. Besides, it has assured free higher education to those who are economically poor and to persons with disabilities.

Reminding of devastating and unprecedented consequences across the globe due to COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed the need of reorienting education system including the education structure, contents and delivery approaches.

 “Along with the existing policy provisions, education itself needs to transform with enabling and equitable policy, good governance, increased parental and community development, accelerated curriculum and diversified delivery approaches, adoption of technology and above all, teacher development.”