Government Reports Progress in Education Sector Reforms

Kathmandu. Since the formation of the current government, significant progress has been made in improving the examination system, administrative reforms in universities, expansion of digital services, and making service delivery effective. The Ministry of Education and Sports has prioritized making the examination system from secondary to university level time-bound, making foreign study permit (NOC) services more effective, freeing universities from political interference, and expanding digital services. According to Ministry spokesperson Shivakumar Sapkota, the results of Secondary Education Examination (SEE), Grade 12, and university-level examinations are being published faster than in the past. From now on, SEE results will be published within one month of the examination completion, Grade 12 results within 40 days, and university results within 65 days. This arrangement has been implemented according to the government's '100-point action plan' related to administrative reform. The action plan stipulates that universities and the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) will publish examination results within two months of the examination completion, and results of bachelor's and master's degrees will be published according to the academic calendar. To make the foreign study permit (NOC) distribution system effective, it has been linked via API with the data systems of Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University. The Ministry has also stated that preparations for interlinking with the National Identity Card (NIC) system are complete. NOC and educational certificate verification services are being provided even on holidays. Emphasis on University Reform The Ministry has stated that it has intensified the campaign to end political interference in universities. Preparations are underway to not provide university buildings or land to student organizations, remove party symbols, and implement the 'Student Council' and 'Voice of Student' systems. The Ministry has stated that the work of drafting the directive for this is in the final stage. The Ministry claims that academic calendars have been implemented in 9 universities so far. In a period of three months, 40,413 people have been provided with NOC, 12,210 educational certificates have been verified, and 56 foreign universities operating with affiliation have been monitored, the Ministry has stated. All 212 complaints received through Hello Sarkar have also been resolved, as mentioned in the Ministry's progress report. Action on Misuse of Study Leave Approximately Rs 50 crore has been recovered so far out of about Rs 2 billion that needs to be recovered from about 400 professors of Tribhuvan University who went on study leave but did not return within the stipulated period. Reforms in School Education The Ministry has stated that it has implemented an alternative assessment system that reduces psychological pressure by removing traditional internal examinations for students up to Grade 5. Arrangements have also been made to admit children without birth registration certificates to schools based on verified details from local levels. Arrangements are being made through the University Grants Commission to issue the necessary procedures so that citizenship is not mandatory for students to study up to the bachelor's level. Digital Services and Administrative Reforms The Ministry has stated that it has moved forward with preparations for an e-pension card system for teachers, the final draft of the national quality standard for school education, the implementation of the regulation related to the cooperative educational degree program, and the restructuring of service delivery (Business Process Re-engineering-BPR). The Ministry has also stated that digital signature verification, expansion of the GIOMS system, establishment of a help desk for grievance management, and listing and implementation of reports from various commissions have also been initiated. Research, Budget, and Educational Reform The Ministry has stated that it has published Educational Information 2083 and completed a comprehensive review and policy analysis of research conducted by the Ministry of Education and its subordinate bodies. Reports from 560 undergraduate and 6 postgraduate students who returned after completing their studies on scholarships have been received and sent to the relevant bodies. The medium-term expenditure framework report has been sent to the National Planning Commission, and the budget ceiling received from the Ministry of Finance has also been communicated to the relevant bodies. Equivalence has been provided to a total of 1,632 individuals, including 629 from Grade 10 and 1,300 from Grade 12. The Ministry has stated that the finalization of the national assessment policy directive to improve the learning achievement test for Grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 is in the final stage, and the assessment framework has been prepared. The final draft of the national quality standard for school education has been prepared, and an agreement has been signed between the Medical Education Commission and the Policy Research Institute for research on the scope of work, scholarship management, fee determination, and operational system of the Medical Education Commission, and research has begun, the Ministry has stated. After the dismissal of most university officials appointed through political appointments, interim arrangements have been made for daily administration, and the selection of new officials through a fair and competitive process is in the final stage. Interviews and presentations for the selection of vice-chancellors of eight universities have started since Saturday. Similarly, targeted programs have been initiated through the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, aiming at more than 76 beneficiaries, to conduct employment, skill development, psychosocial counseling, and rehabilitation programs in government, public, and private sectors for families and citizens affected by the Genji movement. Ministry spokesperson Sapkota said that all these programs will enhance good governance in the education sector, make service delivery effective, ensure quality education, and make educational institutions more accountable.