Nepal's Education Minister Proposes Integrating Sports into School Curriculum for Grassroots Development

Kathmandu. Minister for Education, Science and Sports, Sasmita Pokhrel, has put forward a plan to incorporate sports into the school curriculum itself for the development of Nepal's sports sector. While inspecting the National Sports Council on Tuesday, he informed that this step is being taken with the goal of producing athletes from the grassroots level within the next 5 years.

He pointed out that the main problem in Nepali sports is the inability to prepare athletes from a young age. Recalling the experience of the 'Creative School' program initiated while he was in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Minister Pokhrel expressed commitment to linking sports with education through policy and law.

He discussed that most of Nepal's current athletes are being produced only through departmental teams like the Army, Police, and APF. Since individuals can only join these bodies after turning 18, he stated that sports are being included in the school-level curriculum to ensure proper diet and training from a young age.

Recalling that some legal hurdles prevented the inclusion in the curriculum while he was in the Metropolitan City, he announced that this work will now be completed in coordination with the Curriculum Development Center (CDC) at the central government level. He mentioned that sports are being prioritized because they play a significant role not only in physical but also in mental health.

Requesting to be viewed as a 'team member' rather than a minister, he called upon all experts and employees to set aside prejudice and work together for the long-term development of the sports sector.