Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel made public the education policy at a press conference held at the Ministry on Thursday.

The policy was adopted to bring about visible changes in the education sector with the country ushering into the federal, democratic republic systems, Minister Pokharel said.

He clarified that the policy was formulated based on everyday problems faced by the ministry and the issues unaddressed in the policy would be incorporated in the Federal Education Act.

Drawing out a vision of Nepal’s education, the policy has put forth the slogan ‘educated, civilized, healthy and competent human resources: social justice, transformation, and prosperity’. Likewise, the policy has set a goal to develop human resources aligning the needs of the country and make the education of all levels competitive, tech-friendly, employment-intensive and production-oriented.

The policy was formulated by a task force headed by Minister Pokharel in line with the recommendation of the high-level national education commission. The policy has envisaged the formation of a higher-level education council under the leadership of the Prime Minister for effective regulation and management of higher education.

It has also envisioned developing Nepal as an outstanding educational hub to provide world-class education in certain subjects. The policy has made it mandatory for the higher education graduates to serve the country as a volunteer for a certain time. The policy has put forth an idea for operating the ‘National Development Service’ with volunteer service to attain practical skills and knowledge and utilize the benefits of higher education in social service. The policy has set grade 10 as the minimum qualification of a teacher of the child center.

A policy arrangement was adopted to provide a minimum wage to the school teachers and staff of the primary child class as per the Labour Act. Among other policy arrangements is the establishment of national science school, attainment of professional degree only after academic degree, granting permanent status to the teachers only on the recommendation of the Teacher Service Commission and arrangement of qualified and self-motivated teachers in all schools across the country within five years.