KATHMANDU, Aug 24: Stakeholders have called for the new School Education Act to be student-centred, child-friendly and capable of winning parents’ trust. They also said the state should take responsibility for ensuring the educational rights of children studying in private schools, not only those in community schools.
The government is preparing to introduce a new School Education Act after 55 years. A consultation workshop on the draft bill, covering school management and curriculum management, was held in Kathmandu on Sunday.
The workshop, chaired by Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel, discussed findings from education policy dialogues recently held in all seven provinces. The ministry is drafting the bill to regulate and manage school education, according to Minister Pokharel’s chief adviser Shailendra Jha.
Participants said the state must guarantee free education for all children, clearly define the service conditions of teachers and staff in law, and specify the responsibilities of federal, provincial and local governments.
Kashinath Dangol, president of the Federation of Community School Management, said the new law should win children’s interest and parents’ confidence. He argued that the law should create an environment where children want to attend school and ensure meaningful parental participation in improving educational quality.
Equal pay for equal labor to implemented: Minister Bista
Dangol noted that the current draft guarantees compulsory and free education mainly for children attending community schools. He said children in private schools are also citizens and the law must clearly define how the state will fulfil its responsibility for their free education.
PABSON President Krishna Prasad Adhikari said the new law should support private schools, students and investment. He called for a clear legal guarantee of investment security and said private schools have invested around Rs 700 billion and created large numbers of jobs.
Adhikari also urged the government to review the existing 10 percent scholarship requirement so benefits reach targeted groups effectively. He called for a scientific system to determine school fees based on the services and facilities provided.
Bhim Dhungana, president of the Municipal Association of Nepal, said compulsory and free education guaranteed by the Constitution would remain meaningless without adequate funding. He cited Nilkantha Municipality in Dhading, which has been providing free education by mobilising local resources, and urged the federal government to create the financial basis for expanding such practices nationwide.
Dhungana also said local governments lack sufficient authority over teacher positions and administration despite being responsible for managing school education up to Grade 12 under the Constitution.
Parbati Sunuwar, secretary of the National Association of Rural Municipalities Nepal, said the 2028 education law has become outdated and cannot address current needs. Many schools in remote and rural areas still lack adequate buildings, drinking water, toilets, furniture and teaching materials. She called for clear provisions on teacher positions up to Grade 12 and a stronger Teachers Service Commission.
Kosh Bahadur GC of the Nepal National Parents’ Association called for clear provisions on parental participation and a curriculum that is employment oriented and useful in daily life.
Educationist Bidyanath Koirala said provincial consultations had raised issues including teacher recruitment, job security, promotion, management of teachers and staff from early childhood to Grade 12, technical education and school infrastructure. He called for a law that provides a clear framework for improving school quality and preparing teachers for technology-based education.
Teachers Federation President Laxmikishor Subedi said the new law must serve both students and teachers.
Minister Pokharel’s adviser Jha said the government plans to introduce the bill before the federal Parliament’s winter session, incorporating recommendations from the seven provincial dialogues.
Minister Pokharel said the bill is a government priority and that stakeholder recommendations are being documented before its finalisation. He said adequate investment is essential for quality education. While international practice suggests allocating around 20 percent of the national budget to education, he acknowledged that achieving this target remains difficult for Nepal.
The government is seeking to replace the 55-year-old education law with legislation suited to Nepal’s federal structure and changing educational needs, including technology, teacher management and school quality.
Stakeholders, however, want the new law to go beyond administrative arrangements. They say it must make schools more attractive to children, strengthen parents’ trust and guarantee equal educational rights for students in both community and private schools.
