KATHMANDU: Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel held discussions with ministers overseeing education from all seven provinces on Thursday.
The meeting, held at the Ministry in Singha Durbar, focused on strengthening cooperation and coordination between the federal and provincial governments in the education and sports sectors.
The participants also discussed the organisation of the 10th National Games, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Bill, cooperation during disasters, and intergovernmental coordination.
The meeting expressed a commitment to hold the 10th National Games within the scheduled timeframe, resolve the TVET Bill through mutual consultation, and make technical education more decentralised and accessible.
Minister Pokharel said the federal government wanted to work closely with provincial governments and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two levels of government in education and sports.
She said the School Education Bill was a priority for the ministry and expressed confidence that the legislation would be strengthened by clearly defining the jurisdictions of the three levels of government and incorporating issues left out of the previous draft.
“We have prioritised the School Education Bill. Since several issues were left out of the previous draft, we are now consulting stakeholders across the country and moving forward based on their feedback and suggestions. It has taken some time because we want the legislation to address the issues comprehensively in the long term,” Pokharel said.
She also stressed the need for strong coordination and cooperation among all three levels of government to make the 10th National Games successful, dignified and effective. She said the government would promote athletes by making the best possible use of limited resources in the development of sports and participation in national and international competitions.
Koshi Province Minister for Social Development Geeta Timilsina stressed the need to organise the 10th National Games effectively. She said the three levels of government should work together to develop creative and forward-looking plans.
Madhesh Province Minister for Sports and Social Welfare Lakhan Das Tatma said the country could not prosper without effective education and called for cooperation among the three levels of government to develop education and sports.
Similarly, Bagmati Province Minister for Health and Social Development Gir Bahadur Tamang, Gandaki Province Minister for Social Development, Youth and Sports Rekha Gurung, Lumbini Province Minister for Social Development Ramji Prasad Ghimire, Sudurpaschim Province Minister for Social Development Santosh Kumari Sharma (Thapa), and Karnali Province Minister for Social Development Jit Bahadur Malla called for more effective cooperation and coordination between the federal and provincial governments in education and sports.
National Planning Commission member Reshu Aryal Dhungana stressed the need to increase investment in education and sports. She also said effective coordination from the federal level to provinces and local governments was essential for disaster management.
Education Ministry Secretary Chudamani Paudel called for stronger coordination among the three levels of government to ensure continuity of education and quality learning for children affected by floods.
Ministry Joint Secretary Shree Prasad Bhattarai facilitated the discussion.
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