Government Pledges Major Reforms to Make School Education Compulsory and Free

Kathmandu. The government has committed to increasing investment in education and making school-level education both compulsory and free.

This commitment is outlined in a draft of national pledges formulated by the government, incorporating the election manifestos of six political parties. The government has invited feedback from these parties regarding the draft.

'To bring about radical improvements in the quality, access, and competitive capacity of public education, significant investments will be added over the next two decades to enhance quality,' the draft states. 'We will ensure equal access to education for all children, including pre-primary education, by gradually making school education compulsory and free.' The government also plans to provide education in local mother tongues up to the basic level and introduce moral education in schools.

'Necessary investments will be made to provide teachers, infrastructure, and equipment to government and community schools,' the draft adds. 'Performance-based additional grants will be provided to schools, and teacher performance will be linked to student learning outcomes.'

The government aims to bridge the quality gap between private and public schools by improving the standards of the latter. 'A comprehensive review and policy reform will be undertaken to make education provided by the private sector more service-oriented, accountable, and quality-focused,' the government proposed.

Furthermore, to uphold children's 'right to education,' the government plans to establish at least one 'state-of-the-art model inclusive school' in every province and gradually make all schools fully accessible and inclusive.

The draft also proposes implementing a life-skills-based education system, where four days a week will be dedicated to practical labor education and activities—such as production, construction, innovation, sports, music, art, and literature—to foster personal development and national progress.

Additionally, to make higher education competitive, research-oriented, and employment-focused, the government has proposed restructuring universities, ensuring adherence to academic calendars, and implementing technical education programs alongside 'earn while you learn' initiatives.