Education Reform Cooperation with Private Sector: Minister

Private-Sector Cooperation Will Be Strengthened for Education Reform: Minister Pokharel

Government Spokesperson and Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel has said that cooperation with the private sector will be further strengthened to support policy and structural reforms in the education sector.

Minister Pokharel made the statement during a discussion held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Education and Sports in Singha Durbar with officials and representatives of various organisations associated with private schools.

The discussion included representatives from the National Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal (N-PABSON), the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization Nepal (PABSON), the Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools’ Association Nepal (HISSAN), and the Association of Pre-School Educators Nepal (APEN), among others.

The participants held detailed discussions on the current state of school education, challenges faced by private schools, the promotion of quality education, policy reforms, the School Education Act and other contemporary issues related to the education sector.

Minister Pokharel said the government had prioritised policy and structural reforms in education and would ensure the participation of private-sector stakeholders in policymaking and decision-making processes.

“We are positive about moving forward in cooperation with the private sector. The private sector will also have an important role in the effective implementation of the government’s policies and programmes,” he said.

He expressed the government’s commitment to maintaining continuous consultation and cooperation with the private sector to make the School Education Act sustainable, practical and effective over the long term.

Minister Pokharel also said that he had taken the initiative from the beginning to remove the proposed 3% equity fee in the education and health sectors. He stated that the government’s latest decision had provided relief to the education sector.

He added that the Ministry was advancing the necessary reforms to make the scholarship distribution system more systematic, transparent and effective.

During the discussion, Education Ministry Adviser Shailendra Jha reiterated the government’s commitment to working with the private sector on education policy, planning and implementation. He said the School Education Act needed to be introduced soon and that constructive support from the private sector would be necessary for this purpose.

Representatives of private schools welcomed the government’s decision to remove the proposed 3% equity fee in the education and health sectors. They also expressed their commitment to cooperating with the government on education reform.

The representatives said they were pleased to have an opportunity for direct dialogue with the government on policy matters and requested that such discussions be held regularly.

According to the Ministry, Minister Pokharel has recently been maintaining continuous dialogue with various education-sector stakeholders, educational institutions and representatives. Based on their suggestions, he has been accelerating policy reforms and the necessary coordination.