KATHMANDU – In a landmark move aimed at overhauling the country's academic landscape, the Government of Nepal has announced a comprehensive plan to increase investment in the education sector and ensure that school-level education is both compulsory and free.

The proposal is detailed in the "National Commitment Draft," a strategic document synthesized from the election manifestos of six major political parties. The government has now called for further suggestions from these parties to refine the policy.

Enhancing Quality and Accessibility

According to the draft, the government aims to bring about a radical transformation in the quality, accessibility, and competitiveness of public education. To achieve this, a significant increase in funding is planned over the next two decades.

"We will gradually make school education compulsory and free, ensuring equal access for all children, including pre-primary education," the draft states. Furthermore, the plan emphasizes providing basic education in local mother tongues and integrating moral education into the national curriculum.

Infrastructure and Teacher Accountability

To bridge the gap between various educational standards, the government intends to pour resources into public and community schools. Key focus areas include:

• Resource Allocation: Providing necessary teachers, infrastructure, and modern equipment.
• Performance-Based Funding: Schools will receive additional grants based on their effectiveness.
• Learning Outcomes: Teacher performance will be directly linked to student learning achievements.

The government also addressed the disparity between private and public schools. The policy aims to upgrade public school quality while reforming the private sector to be more service-oriented, accountable, and quality-focused.

Innovative Learning and Higher Education Reform

In a shift toward practical skills, the government proposed a "life-useful" education system. Under this model, four days a week will be dedicated to production, construction, innovation, sports, music, art, and literature to foster personal growth and national development.

For higher education, the focus will shift toward research and employability. The government plans to:

1. Restructure Universities: To make them globally competitive and research-oriented.
2. Academic Discipline: Strict adherence to the academic calendar.
3. "Earn While You Learn": Implementing programs that allow students to gain technical skills and income simultaneously.

To ensure inclusivity, the government also pledged to establish at least one "state-of-the-art model inclusive school" in every province.