HISSAN Suggestions in Election Manifestos
As the election atmosphere intensifies nationwide for the House of Representatives member election scheduled for March 5, 2026 [Falgun 21, 2082 (BS)], political parties have accelerated preparations.
With 68 political parties getting ready to compete across 165 constituencies, candidates are busy drafting their manifestos with their respective commitments.
While parties continue to say they will prioritize education, the newly elected executive committee of the Higher Education and Secondary Schools Association Nepal (HISSAN) is preparing to submit written suggestions to parties, demanding systemic reforms in education.
HISSAN has urged parties to include structural reforms from school education to the university level, expanded use of technology, and protection of private-sector investment in their manifestos.
Speaking at a press conference held in Kathmandu on Tuesday, HISSAN’s newly elected President, Yuvraj Sharma, shared the association’s direction and expectations from political parties.
AI training for teachers and a plan to prepare 50,000 skilled personnel
Citing rapid advancements in information technology and stating that the coming era is the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), HISSAN has emphasized capacity building for teachers.
According to President Sharma, HISSAN has proposed an ambitious plan to provide AI-related training to around 50,000 teachers across the country.
“Currently, around 10,000 schools are operating where teaching continues up to SEE and Grade 12. If we include five teachers from each school, we can make 50,000 teachers proficient in AI technology,” Sharma said.
“Our plan is to work with the government and include teachers from public schools as well, not only private schools,” he added.
HISSAN views studies from Grades 9 to 12 at the school level as a foundational pillar. Therefore, it has prepared a plan to provide special training to teachers teaching at this level in Mathematics, Science, and Accounting.
HISSAN has suggested that parties should make clear policy provisions in their manifestos to increase the use of technology in these subjects and to make teaching and learning more effective.
Demand for clear commitments and accountability in manifestos
HISSAN has expressed dissatisfaction that, although parties made written commitments in past elections to prioritize an Education Act, those commitments were not implemented in practice.
President Sharma emphasized that party manifestos are a key basis for voters’ evaluation, and therefore they should include clear action plans rather than vague assurances.
“In the past, the commitment to bring an Education Act could not be fulfilled, which is a major weakness of the parties,” Sharma said.
“Within the next five years, what exactly will be done in school education, higher education, and technical education must be clearly stated in the manifesto,” he added.
He further said that a timeline should be set for how soon the Act will be introduced. If the commitments listed in the manifesto are not implemented within five years, it should be made clear to voters who will take responsibility and what kind of action will follow.
Public school consolidation and a residential model
To improve public education, HISSAN has suggested that parties adopt a policy of school consolidation (merger).
Pointing to data that, among 27,000 public schools nationwide, more than 15,000 have fewer than 100 students, President Sharma said restructuring is necessary.
“Clear policy concepts must appear in the manifesto to merge schools with low student numbers and operate schools with residential facilities (residential schools),” he said.
“From budget allocation to management, education-sector reform must be prioritized,” he added.
Autonomy in higher education and investment security
HISSAN has expressed concern that students are leaving the country due to increasing politicization in higher education and uncertain education policies.
To provide quality education within Nepal and reduce youth outmigration, HISSAN has concluded that the scope of higher education must be expanded.
President Sharma said, “Just as students study in Nepal up to Grade 12, an environment must be created so they can complete bachelor-level education within the country as well.”
“For this, private institutions must be granted autonomy in higher education,” he added.
According to HISSAN’s proposal, private colleges should be given the authority to develop curricula, conduct examinations, and publish results, while the university should continue to issue the final degree certificate.
He stated that such autonomy would help private colleges gain recognition comparable to constituent colleges of universities and maintain quality standards.
Additionally, HISSAN has suggested that technical education should be advanced in line with the concept of provincial universities to make it more effective.
Private-sector contribution and legal guarantees
HISSAN General Secretary Ramhari Silwal said the contribution of the private sector to the country’s education sector should not be undervalued.
He said that with strong infrastructure and human resources, the private sector has investments worth around NPR 10 billion and accounts for 33% of overall education, and therefore the state should provide a secure environment for it.
“We want to contribute to the state’s education system while staying within the rules. But there is no environment for investment security and uninterrupted operation,” Silwal said.
He added that parties should ensure scholarship provisions under social responsibility and provide legal guarantees through their manifestos to protect private investment.
HISSAN’s organizational strengthening and future plan
HISSAN has formed various departments and councils to expand and strengthen its organization.
President Sharma said that three high-level councils have been formed to systematize tasks such as technology-based financial management, academic advancement, examinations, seminars, and capacity building.
Accordingly, a six-member “Director Council” has been formed under the coordination of Umesh Shrestha, an eight-member “Advisory Council” under the coordination of Ramesh Silwal, and a ten-member “Academic and Research Council” under the coordination of Dr. Madhav Baral.
HISSAN said it is preparing to soon submit to political parties a point-wise suggestion document covering all of these issues.
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