Cooperation of private sector indispensable in education reforms: Minister Pokharel

Kathmandu: Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmit Pokharel, has asserted that cooperation with the private sector would be further strengthened for policy and structural reforms of the education sector.

He shared so during a meeting with office-bearers and representatives of National Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal (N-PABSON), Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal (PABSON), Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools’ Association Nepal (HISSAN), Association of Pre-School Educators Nepal and other private school organisations held at the Ministry, Singha Durbar, on Tuesday.

On the occasion, a discussion was held on various issues including the present situation of school education, challenges faced by private schools, promotion of quality education, policy reforms, the School Education Act and other contemporary issues related to the education sector.

Saying the government has put policy and structural reforms of the education sector as a priority, Minister Pokharel mentioned that participation of stakeholders of the private sector would be ensured in the policy and decision-making process.

Also, the Spokesperson of the government, Minister Pokharel, opined that programmes of educational reforms would be forwarded by making coordination and cooperation between the government and private sector further effective.

“We are positive to move ahead collaborating with the private sector. The private sector has an important role in the effective implementation of the government’s policies and programmes,” he argued.

The Education Minister expressed commitment to hold continuous consultation and cooperation with the private sector to make school education act practical and long-term.

Stating that he had taken the initiative to remove the three per cent equity tax proposed in the education and health sectors, Minister Pokharel opined that the government’s recent decision has given relief to the education sector. He further said the ministry is working to make the scholarship distribution system more systematic, transparent and effective.

Similarly, Advisor at the Education Ministry, Shailendra Jha, reiterated the government’s commitment to moving ahead, collaborating with the private sector in policy, plan and implementation of the education sector.

Sharing the necessity to immediately bring the School Education Act, he underlined that constructive support of the private sector is needed for the same.

The office-bearers and representatives of different organisations related to private schools welcomed the government’s decision to remove the three per cent equity tax proposed in the education and health sectors and expressed commitment to collaborate with the government for reforms in the education sector.

RSS