BIRATNAGAR: A province-level programme has been held here in a bid to identify professional issues of school teachers and employees. Even the measures to resolve their problems were discussed in the event on Saturday.

Joint secretary at Ministry of Education and Sports, Shiva Kumar Sapkota, said the government was serious on bringing a new Education Act. The event was organized by Ministry of Education and Sports and facilitated by the Principals Association of Nepal (PAN).

Joint-secretary Sapkota further said the new law would prioritise legal and policy reforms so as to make school education systematic, quality-oriented and effective. The programme dwelt on ‘professional challenges of school teachers and employees, and policy level solutions’.

Ministry’s advisor Shailendra Jha said education is the first priority of the Ministry, adding that the government is working to ensure that the entire community schools provide quality education. He stressed the need to allocate budget to schools on the need-basis rather than access.

Educationist Bidhyanath Koirala viewed while formulating policies for school education reform, actual experiences, needs, and voices of stakeholders at the school level should be acknowledged.

PAN Chairperson Sudam Prasad Gautam said the event would be significant in bringing to light the real challenges faced by schools and possible solutions to the attention of policymakers.

The event was attended by 200 persons who were principals, teachers and staff from various schools in the Koshi Province. As shared at the programme, the province -level group discussions and online submission will be considered while revising Education Act, Regulations and Education Policy.

Such policy dialogue campaigns will be held in other provinces as well.