Kathmandu, April 21 — Amid mounting concerns over policy ambiguity and systemic uncertainty, education stakeholders have called for urgent reforms and greater clarity in Nepal’s school education sector.

A high-level panel discussion titled “School Education: Challenges and Probable Way Forward,” organized by College Readers, was held on Baisakh 6 at Kumari Hall, Islington College, Dhobidhara. The event brought together leading voices from private education networks, academia, and parent bodies.

Organized in collaboration with HISSAN, PABSON, and N-PABSAN, the program focused on recent policy shifts, increasing pressure on private and institutional schools, and a growing trust deficit among parents and students.

Opening the session, Program Coordinator Bhawani Prasad Paudel underscored the need for open and inclusive dialogue to address the sector’s challenges. “School education today is marked by uncertainty and multiple challenges. Addressing them requires collaboration and a clear vision—from policymakers to school management,” he said.

Paudel added that such forums are essential to building long-term solutions and presenting a practical roadmap, while also emphasizing the media’s role in responsibly shaping public discourse around education reforms.

Speakers raised serious concerns about the direction of policy-making. Ram Hari Silwal, General Secretary of HISSAN, stressed the need to treat the sector’s challenges with urgency and called for greater recognition of private sector contributions, alongside insulating education from political interference.

Echoing similar concerns, former PABSON President D.K. Dhungana criticized recent decisions as “hasty” and lacking stakeholder consultation. “Decisions such as closing schools without adequate dialogue are not appropriate. In a sensitive sector like education, inclusive participation is essential,” he said.

The panel discussion—featuring Yuvraj Sharma (HISSAN), Krishna Adhikari (PABSON), Subas Neupane (N-PABSAN), and Suprabhat Bhandari (Guardians’ Federation)—highlighted a widening gap between policy formulation and implementation. Panelists emphasized that bridging this divide is critical to improving educational quality.

Discussions also explored shifting student needs, rising parental expectations, and the growing impact of technology, with speakers calling for reforms in curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment systems to keep pace with changing times.

Participants pointed to weak coordination between public and private sectors as a key driver of systemic challenges, urging the creation of a more collaborative and trust-based framework. Parent representative Suprabhat Bhandari stressed the need to incorporate parents’ voices into policy-making.

Vice-Chancellor of Madhesh University, Prof. Dr. Deepak Bahadur Shakya, called for such dialogues to translate into meaningful outcomes. He expressed optimism that policymakers—many of whom are products of private education—would contribute to strengthening the sector.

The event was attended by prominent figures including Ramesh Kumar Silwal, Chief Advisor of HISSAN; Dr. Swagat Shrestha, Senior Vice President of HISSAN; Jeetendra Ghimire, CEO of College Readers; Keshav Nepal, Executive Editor of College Readers; along with senior representatives from PABSON, HISSAN, and N-PABSAN.

Stakeholders also stressed the need to ensure long-term policy stability and shield the education sector from political interference, warning that frequent policy changes are fueling confusion among schools, teachers, students, and parents alike.

The program concluded with a strong consensus: without clear policies, coordinated action, and sustained dialogue, Nepal’s school education system risks further instability. Participants noted that such discussions play a crucial role in bringing complex issues into the public domain and shaping a more coherent reform agenda for the future.