Kathmandu - The government incentive to 100 public schools based on academic results, merger of public schools and review teacher posts, establishment of a teacher bank in collaboration with universities to prevent a shortage of teachers in English, Science, and mathematics, mobilizing graduate students as volunteer teachers, provision for the operation and management of SEE at the Provincial are the main annual programmes mentioned the news. Implementation of the agreement between the Nepal Teachers Federation (NTF) and the Government, increasing Federal Conditional Grants for ECED and school staff have been increased, the news mentioned the vow of the government. 

Per-student grants for midday meals up to grade five have been increased by five rupees, making Rs. 20, the news quoted. This is mentioned in the budget presented to the Federal Parliament on Jestha 15 (29 May) for Nepal’s Fiscal Year 2025/26 by the Minister of Finance Mr. Bishnu Poudel. A budget of Rs. 1964.11 billion (more than USD 14.41 billion) presented by the Finance Minister, Rs 211.17 billion (USD 1549.37 million) has been allocated for education, the news published. Although the Ministry of Education has the largest budget allocation compared to other Ministries, this amount is mere 10.75 percent of the total budget. Although the amount allocated for the next fiscal year is Rs 8 billion more than the Rs 203 billion allocated for the current fiscal year; it is still 0.19 percent less for the current year, the news mentioned. The budget presented by the Government proposes to impose a three percent ‘education service fee’ for exchanging foreign currency to students going to study abroad. 

The National Campaign for Education (NCE) Nepal has quickly concluded that the budget for the fiscal year 2082/83 failed to include concrete education reform programs, there was the news. 
Minister for Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) Mr. Raghuji Pant has said that the School Education Act will be introduced by 15 Ashar (29 June 2025), as per the agreement with the NTF, quoted the news. (A 10-day extension of the deadline was said to be asked by the new Minister to resolve the isseus – Ed.)

The members of the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee (EHITC) have proposed that the ECED, which is supposed to be a one-year program in the School Education Bill, should be made a two-year program. The Minister of Education has rejected the idea of making it a two-year program, saying it would add financial burden, mentioned the news. However, EHITC Chair Mr. Ammar Bahadur Thapa said in the Committee meeting that if an Act is to be made for education reform, the state should be prepared to increase investment in education, the report published. Since only through education reform can a country be improved, if we do not increase investment in education, it is a lie to say that we will make country developed, the news quoted. 

The Ministry of Finance has also released this year's Economic Survey (ES). According to the ES, the number of teachers in the academic session 2081 was 279,585, of which 42.6 percent were female and 57.4 percent were male, there was the news. The proportion of female teachers working at the basic level is higher than at the secondary level. At the basic level, 49.3 percent of teachers are women, 18.3 percent at secondary level the news came quoting the ES. Based on the number of students in Grades 1-12, the number of students per school in public schools is 170 while it is 291 in private schools.

According to another news, the rate of students completing basic education has increased. According to the MoEST, the rate was 80.3 percent in the 2080 academic session and it reached 82.4 percent in the 2081 academic session. The number of male children enrolled in ECED Classes is higher than that of female children. The fact that 55.1 percent of boys and 44.9 percent girls are in ECED and pre-primary classes is also published. 

Shikhar Basic School located in Swat, Annapurna Rural Municipality (RM), Myagdi, has one permanent teacher, local resource teacher, and one office assistant to teach three students, the news came. 

There was report that to address the problem of teacher shortage at the secondary level, the government is planning to make policy arrangements that will allow a single teacher to teach two subjects. For this, making subject selection flexible at the campus, an incumbent teacher will be allowed/asked to choose two major subjects - discussions have been held between the MoEST and the University Grants Commission - mentioned the news. 

Perhaps the budget and programs on education this year is the most incongruent with the current situation in the sector. The annual program and budget come at a time when the country's public school system is in a state of uncertainty. While it can be recognized that the School Education Bill, which is at the forefront of public concern, and the demands following the teachers' strike, which has just taken a break, have been addressed to some extent, it has clearly shown that the country's education sector is to remain in a status quo. 

Since the Minister of Education was recently 'fired' and new one was brought in, there is certainly no one to own the program and the budget. Moreover, Secretary of Education has also just been changed. 

Despite some tweaking of the language used in the President's address, it has left no stone unturned to promote the dominance of the private sector even though many MPs from all parties have proposed amendments to turn private schools into nonprofit trust (Guthi), even the subcommittee has not been able to resolve the issue. Without specifying which of the successful practices to be adapted, saying to utilize the lessons learned from school management is futile. The key successful practices in public schools are parental involvement including contributing in cash and school-based management which is contrary to current Government provisions. Such lack of specifications make the proposed plan or program likely to confine in the use of jargon brought out for public consumption without proper planning and homework. Including schools in the scope of Corporate Social Responsibility without specifying public, it may deviate the purpose even if it’s a creative move. The effort to link the Study-and-Earning program with internships is positive, although it is less likely to help rural students as such.

The newly appointed Minister is reiterating that the Government does not have adequate money a number of times. Should we compare the cost on education to other sectors or not? And what is the use of all the money if it is not allocated for education? Even the problem on education is more on the system than in  money. Increasing the budget without increasing efficiency will only increase anomaly and wastage. This year's the Auditor General's report has clearly shown how the education sector is getting trapped in the swamp of corruption. Perhaps it seems fair to tax foreign currency exchanged when studying abroad. Since there is no mention of what the money will be used for, it seems that the government has its eyes on the money rather than in justice or using it on education.  

Although mentioned (for many years) School Mapping is positive but the motive seems to be the school merger. 

Overall, the budget is urban-oriented than rural, prioritizes big schools over small, and encourages children to go to private schools. 

The field of educational journalism is felt limited to the issue such as increment of grant for mid-day meal by five rupees or share of budget has decreased compared to before. 

There was a report that the Supreme Court has issued an interim order not to deprive students in private schools of the opportunity to speak Nepali. The Supreme Court has issued the order to show cause on a writ petition filed by Smriti Adhikari, Bivek Bakhrel, and Ayush Badal alleging that private schools are charging fines from students for speaking Nepali, the news mentioned. 
In a letter to the Editor published in Gorkhapatra, Satyaram Kasichhwa of Bhaktapur wrote that for the overall development of the country, in line with the spirit of the constitution, republic and federalism, there should be discussions to bring an education act linked to production and labor.

The Nepali Congress has initiated a discussion on higher education by bringing together educationists, politicians, and bodies concerned with the sector to help the Ministry of Education's higher education bill, mentioned the news. 

Dhan Sudan Chaulagain, in an article in Gorkhapatra, wrote that the head teacher should monitor the performance of teachers and employees, School Management Committee should monitor the work and performance of head teacher and that the Local Government's education authority should establish a competent mechanism for external monitoring.

Tila RM of Jumla has convened head teachers of all 32 public schools, peoples representatives, and other stakeholders to discuss issues related to improving educational quality. Discussions were held on the development of a necessary action plan by the Municipality to upgrade dilapidated school buildings, arrange sports facilities in schools, make monitoring more effective, and end the situation of deprivation from education due to poverty, the news mentioned. 

There was report that Schools across the district have been closed due to the 'Yarsa season' after most of 14 thousand students of Dolpa went to highlands to pick Yarsagumba, a valuable herb native to the region. 

This is a 'song' that the media sings every year! This news is spreading a narrative implying an inferiority against the residents of the Himalayan region, such as not understanding the importance of education and not being able to eat if they don't go to pick the yarsa. Teachers and staff use this as a shield to cover up their lethargy. No one feels guilt or reflects for unsuccessfully trying to impose a time and subject matter that is not appropriate for the region and its people. How long we all will continue to use such narratives to cover up the inaction of the responsible entities in the pretext of peoples’ compulsion? Another narrative made on such a compulsion is people having to go to the brick kiln. Don't we whoever may be, feel our livelihood depends on those who are struggling to make ends meet? Should we have schools that are suitable for people or should people become suitable for schools? What if the schools are closed for picking up the herb? After all, what have the students will have achieved in life by attending all classes everyday? Isn't it time to think?! 

Leaders and activists of the Nepal Student Union, affiliated to the Nepali Congress, vandalized the office of Acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Tribhuvan University (TU), Prof. Dr. Khadak KC, the report published. The Chairs of the Free Student Union (FSU) Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, Patan and Saraswati Campuses who are activist of NSU vandalized and locked the Rector's office during the exams pressuring them to admit irregular students. 

FSU of TU Central Campus condemned vandalism at VC's office. The FSU has issued a statement saying that it will oppose any chaos, vandalism, disorder, and lockout, the news mentioned. 
Student organizations have protested against the appointment of a campus head at the Public Administration Campus, Balkhu. According to the news, student organizations including FSU, NSU, and CPN (Maoist Centre) affiliated student organization have protested, saying that the person who was recommended in the second place by the three-member Campus Chief Selection and Recommendation Committee, coordinated by Professor Bal Krishna Shrestha, and who was involved in controversies in the past has been appointed as the Campus Chief, leaving aside the person who was recommended in the first place. 

The NPABSON Kathmandu District Committee has trained 327 pre-primary and primary level teachers from 40 private schools in Kathmandu, there was news. 

Purpose of this news review is to classify and synthesize the educational content of the week and provide objective comments from the point of view of social justice and creative pedagogy including the environment. It is aimed to the policy makers and stakeholders to help make informed decisions. In this joint effort of the Center for Educational Policies and Practices (CEPP) and EduKhabar, material from daily newspapers - Kantipur, Gorkhapatra and The Himalayan Times, online news portals - Online Khabar, Setopati and Ratopati and the 8 o'clock news of Nepal Television and 7 o'clock news of Himalaya Television is summarized and presented with commentary on relevant issues. We have covered the contents from 24-30 May 2025 in this issue - The Editor.

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