Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Poudel today held a meeting with the National Planning Commission (NPC) Vice Chairperson in a bid to increase budget for the education sector.
During his meeting with NPC Vice Chairperson Dr Bishwa Poudel, the Minister urged the Vice Chairperson for increasing the size of education budget by at least 20 percent. According to the Minister, the government requires more budget than the past allocation in the educational sector.
He apprised the NPC Vice Chairperson of government plan to ensure library facilities, and science and IT laboratories in all secondary schools, provide training to all teachers, increasing coverage and amount of scholarship for poor, establishing a model residential central school in each province, and creating quotas for 3,000 teachers for English, mathematics and science subjects.
“Huge chunk of education budget is spent on teachers’ salary,” the Minister said, adding that the government had also planned the introduction of ‘golden handshake scheme’ for temporary teachers and those nearing retirement age. More, the government aims to increase government and community higher colleges, improve teachers’ preparations curricula, and upgrade and promote technical education in all 753 local levels.
According to Minister Poudel, the government was preparing to run NAST offices in all provinces. In response, Vice Chairperson Poudel assured that the budget for education would be increased in the upcoming fiscal year. He stressed the need for prioritising enhancement of quality education and upgrading schools in Sudurpashim and Karnali Provinces while increasing the budget.
Source: National News Agency Nepal
