Mahabir Pun’s First Month: Education Reforms

Mahabir Pun was appointed Minister of Education, Science and Technology on Ashoj 5. In his first month, he announced steps from school to university level. The agenda spans CTEVT affiliation, curriculum updates, governance changes, and field-level management.

CTEVT Affiliation

A taskforce was formed to resolve affiliation issues at the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT).

Pending applications: 442

Taskforce timeline: two months

Goal: impartial decisions with no irregularities

The taskforce will investigate the pending files and reach affiliation decisions within the set timeline.

School Education

Computer as a Full Subject

Computer will be added as a 100-mark subject up to the secondary level.

Teacher Posts and Licensing

To support students in remote areas, teacher positions will be increased and a licensing system will be introduced for computer instructors.

New Curriculum Additions

• Moral Education

• Pre-Vocational Education

• History

• Constitution

Salaries and Procedures

Complaints emerged that teacher salaries were halted soon after the minister took office. Funds sent from the federal level were found to be held at the local level, and an investigation has begun. Procedures for principal selection and teacher transfers are being revised to make them more transparent, effective, and practical.

Universities and Examinations

Reducing Politicization

Work has started to keep universities free from politicization. Discussions were held on removing the Prime Minister from the role of Chancellor.
Legal requirement: this change would need an amendment to the law.

Filling Vacancies

Because power-sharing had stalled appointments, efforts are underway to fill vacant positions, including senators, in universities.

Timely Results

Examination results have taken up to nine months to be published. A new provision will allow departmental grants to be withheld if results are delayed by more than three months.

Tribhuvan University Land

The report of the committee that investigated encroached and boundary-violated land of Tribhuvan University has been made public.

Institutional Setup

An initiative has begun to split the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and create a separate Ministry of Science and Technology. The aim is a dedicated, well-budgeted ministry to support economic development and innovation.