Kathmandu, May 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government would extend support for the promotion of education that emphasises on patriotism, change and development.

Inaugurating the Seventh National General Convention of the Higher Secondary Schools Association of Nepal (HISSAN) here today, PM Oli urged the education sector stakeholders to discuss regarding the kind of national education policy that could be formulated taking into consideration the achievements, problems, needs and possibilities of the education sector. He added that how the education could be made merit-based was the moot issue of the day.

PM Oli stressed on the need of producing qualified and skilled manpower making education qualitative and competitive.

Pointing out the need of identifying an individual’s talents and liking, and counselling that person to pursue education in that particular field, PM Oli said, “May be I would have failed had I been admitted to a music university because I am not the kind of person who has the passion in that field.”

Nepal is a proud nation with ancestors who were outstanding innovators, the Prime Minister said and urged the education sector to contribute by producing skilled researchers and capable human resources required for the country’s development and the post-earthquake reconstruction.

“Education is the inherent human right. However, in our context there is confusion regarding the needs of the community and the private schools for its realization. Rather than going by the confusion, education would be treated as a person’s fundamental right for now. Nobody will be in difficulty if this is done. We have to devote to the country’s development from our respective places and this is the need of the hour,” he said.

PM Oli stated that the government was of the people and it was with HISSAN and sector concerned as it works for the people.

President of the Legislature-Parliament’s committee on women, children, senior citizen and social welfare, Ranju Kumari Jha, CPN (UML) politburo member Gangalal Tuladhar, Nepali Congress leader Chandra Bhandari, UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Dhaniram Poudel, among other speakers wished for the success of the general convention.

President of Hissan and lawmaker Umesh Shrestha said the two-day general convention will elect a new leadership. Of the 3638 higher secondary schools in the country 1050 are operated in the private sector. RSS