Education in top priority of government: Minister Pokhrel

Kathmandu: Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokhrel has said that sufficient budget was allocated in the education and sports sector since it is a top priority area of the government.

Responding to the lawmakers’ concerns on the Appropriation Bill, 2083 BS, in today’s National Assembly meeting, Minister Pokhrel said that the education and sports sector was prioritised with top budget on the basis of available resources in the country.

He added that Rs 218.30 billion has been allocated in the education and sports sector for the upcoming fiscal year, which is 10.28 percent of the national budget.

The Minister argued that though the budget in this sector for the upcoming fiscal year is 0.47 percent less compared to the current fiscal year, the total amount is more by Rs 7 billion.

Pokhrel was of the view that the budget in the education and sports sector will be sufficient while calculating the budget of the school nurse programme, teaching grant quota, laboratory and school infrastructure development relating to information and communication together.

The Education Minister stated that among the budget 69.49 percent is allocated to school education, 11.04 percent to higher education, 2.56 percent technical and vocational education and training, 1.74 percent to sports and 15.17 percent to management.

Likewise, Minister Pokhrel said that Rs 350 million has been allocated to conduct the SEE at the province-level. Pokhrel stated that Rs 1.07 billion has been allocated for the management of smart board in all community schools that run secondary level, adding that this is a move to make a jump towards digital learning. He also mentioned that mapping of the schools and their restructuring will be carried out in the upcoming fiscal year to merge the schools.

Minister Pokhrel opined that the universities should reduce their huge dependency on the government by framing the investment modalities, but added that the government would manage the minimum costs required for the universities.

He also reiterated that the academic calendar will be implemented in the universities and a world-class curriculum will be implemented in Nepal’s universities. In order to encourage the athletes, the record breakers in different sports will be awarded and honoured, he said.

RSS