Sasmik Pokharel Appointed Education Minister in New Government

Kathmandu. Sasmik Pokharel, elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Kathmandu Constituency No. 5, has been appointed as the Minister for Education, Science and Technology. He has been given the responsibility of the Ministry of Education in the government formed under the leadership of Balendra (Balen) Shah.

The young leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Pokharel, secured his parliamentary seat in the recently concluded elections by defeating 'heavyweight' candidates such as senior CPN-UML leader Ishwar Pokharel and Nepali Congress General Secretary Pradeep Poudel.

During the 2079 local level elections, Pokharel played a leading role from the streets to social media and organizational fronts in ensuring Balen Shah's victory as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Under Balen's leadership, he served as an Education Expert Advisor and an Urban Planning Commission Advisor in the Metropolitan City.

While at the Metropolis, he led the transparent distribution of scholarships to approximately 20,000 students from grades 1 to 12, particularly in the education sector. For this purpose, the Metropolis had allocated an annual budget of 3.5 billion rupees.

Furthermore, he played a role in installing 'smart boards' in community schools, developing school master plans, initiating the 'Book Free Friday' program, and improving school infrastructure. Born on Falgun 1, 2052, in Kathmandu, Pokharel is a permanent resident of Kathmandu Constituency No.-5.

After completing his primary and plus two education in the United States and returning to Nepal, he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Kathmandu University. Pokharel, who began his political journey through the youth organization and central committee of the Bibeksheel Sajha Party, is currently a central committee member and spokesperson for the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

He was active in collecting and managing the 'Earthquake Fund' from the US during the 2072 earthquake and is known as a prominent speaker for alternative politics.

The newly appointed Minister Pokharel aims to expand the experience gained in educational reform at the Metropolitan City across the entire country. He has prioritized improving the quality of public education, good governance, transparency, youth employment, and the digital economy as his main focus areas.