Kathmadnu | The “Teacher Management and Investment in Education” interactive program, held successfully in Kathmandu, was designed to uplift the standard of education in Nepal and address its existing deficiencies. The dialogue event, conducted in the capital city, emphasized the pivotal role of investing in teachers to elevate the overall educational quality.
The program garnered significant participation from diverse stakeholders who engaged in discussions pertaining to teacher management and educational investment. During the event, Kamala Tuladhar, President of the Teachers Federation, brought attention to a notable paradox within the country’s educational system: the absence of new teaching positions created since the year 2056 (Bikram Sambat). Tuladhar underscored that prior to attributing the decline in educational quality to teachers, it’s crucial to tackle the shortage of teaching positions. With a staggering teacher-student ratio difference of over 76,000, she underscored the urgency of channeling more resources into the education sector and augmenting the budget for improved outcomes.
Gunaraj Moktan, President of the Federation of Students, voiced concerns about the prevailing confusion among students and the diminishing allure of the teaching profession. Despite the influx of new teachers, the hierarchy within educational institutions has remained stagnant. Moktan stressed the necessity of clearly defining teaching positions and ensuring that schools operate with sufficient budgets to achieve the desired quality. He argued that enacting laws alone wouldn’t yield substantial transformations in the education sector; substantial financial investment is imperative. Thus, the focus should shift toward bolstering investment in education to bring about substantial enhancements.
Saroj Kumar Pokharel, Head of the Policy and Program Department at ActionAid Nepal, encapsulated the program by accentuating the conversations surrounding teachers’ rights and stakeholder participation. However, he pinpointed a notable gap in the discussions – the rights and requirements of children were inadequately addressed. Pokharel emphasized that accountability toward children and the competence of teachers are pivotal facets necessitating attention. He urged for a collaborative endeavor between the government and diverse stakeholders to thoroughly reassess and address these issues.
A research report conducted in 2022 by ActionAid Nepal and the National Campaign for Education Nepal underscored the necessity for an investment of at least 4 billion 33 billion 890 million to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 – twice the current investment. To ensure practically accessible and high-quality education, it’s imperative for governments at all levels to prioritize matters related to teachers and effective teacher management. Reports indicate a dearth of teachers across the nation, underscoring the urgency of teacher recruitment and appropriate allocation based on student numbers to enrich the quality of learning.
Considering this critical scenario, organizations affiliated with TaxEd Alliance Nepal, including the Nepal National Teachers Association, Nepal Teachers Association, Institutional School Teachers Union Nepal, TaxEd International Nepal, Tax and Financial Justice Forum Nepal, and The National Campaign for Teachers Nepal, converged to deliberate on teacher management and education investment. This collective endeavor aspires to steer efforts toward augmenting Nepal’s education sector.
