Education minister unveils 3-month work plan

KATHMANDU, April 16:  On the occasion of completion of his one month in office, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel unveiled his ministry's 30-point work plans for the next three months on Sunday.

The draft of a federal education bill and rights-based education bill will be completed within two months, according to the plan unveiled on April 15.

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The Ministry of Education alone cannot implement the work plan effectively therefore cooperation from the prime minister and the Ministry of Finance are vital. -- Giriraj Mani Pokharel, education minister 

The work plan includes preparing model laws for provinces and local bodies within two months, drafting integrated higher education bill within three months, restructuring high-level national education commission within a month, classifying universities within three months, tabling a bill related to radiation-causing objects in the cabinet within three months, registering regional cooperation agreement on international atomic energy in parliament within three months, introducing subsidized loan schemes for higher education within three months, and resource development for testing teachers' expertise within three months.

Similarly, other plans include good governance policy for technical and vocational education and training within three months, investment model for universities within three months, management of displaced teachers to be tabled in cabinet, national curriculum framework of school education within a month, community school improvement framework within three months and development of curriculum for grades 1 to 3 within three months.

However, vital works such as opening vacancy for school teachers, corruption-control mechanism in the ministry and retaining students in public schools were not mentioned in the work plan.

When asked how effectively will the work plan be executed, Minister Pokharel said, "The Ministry of Education alone cannot implement the work plan effectively therefore cooperation from the prime minister and the Ministry of Finance are vital."