Stakeholders Call for Legal Recognition and Autonomous Operation of Special-Purpose Schools

Stakeholders have emphasized the need to include special-purpose schools in the Education Act and establish provisions for their autonomous and effective operation. The recommendations were made during a consultation organized by the Ministry of Education and Sports with officials and stakeholders of schools established for specific purposes as part of its efforts to collect suggestions for drafting the Education Act.

The meeting, held at the ministry in Singha Durbar under the chairmanship of Shailendra Jha, Chief Adviser to the Minister for Education and Sports, discussed the operation and management of special-purpose schools, policy and legal provisions, financial management, and the quality of teaching and learning.

Participants emphasized the need for legal and policy arrangements to integrate these schools into the mainstream national school education system. Discussions also focused on ensuring coordination among all three tiers of government, strengthening accountability in administrative procedures, and determining an appropriate operational model for such schools.

Chief Adviser Jha said the consultation with representatives of the concerned schools was organized to address their operational and management arrangements through policy measures and determine their future operational structure.

Similarly, Shiv Kumar Sapkota, Joint Secretary at the ministry, said necessary policy and structural reforms would be introduced as required to improve the operation and management of schools established for special purposes.

Representatives from Sainik schools, police schools, SOS schools, civil service schools, Gandaki Boarding School, Budhanilkantha School, and Shaheed Smriti schools participated in the discussion.

Representatives of the participating schools raised concerns about difficulties in increasing student enrollment at schools established to ensure access to education for children affected by conflict. They also highlighted shortages of approved teaching positions and challenges in school management.

The representatives recommended that special-purpose schools be explicitly addressed in the Education Act, provided with arrangements for autonomous operation, and supported through a unified structure capable of delivering quality education.