Policy dialogue highlights need to strengthen quality of basic education

Dhangadhi: Stakeholders have emphasized that improving the quality of education at the basic level is essential to enhance overall student learning outcomes.

Speaking at a policy dialogue on basic learning organized by the Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with UNICEF and the British Council in Dhangadhi on Monday, participants stressed the need to further improve education quality from grades 1 to 3. They noted that the basic level forms the foundation of all learning and that strong learning outcomes at this stage positively influence performance at higher levels.

Provincial Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Hemraj Regmi, said that while access to education is not a major issue, quality remains a significant challenge. He stated that 98 percent of students in Sudurpaschim Province can reach a school within half an hour. Highlighting the urgent need for teacher reappointment in the province, Regmi said that student dropout rates remain high and that three percent of students are still outside the reach of education. He emphasized the need for collective efforts to include all students and improve education quality.

Citing a UNICEF study, it was shared that only 9.1 percent of grade 3 students meet the prescribed reading standards, while just 16.2 percent are able to accurately read 45 words per minute. Indra Pant, the organization’s Dhangadhi field officer, said that learning policies must be developed with consideration for societal and cultural contexts.

Emphasizing the importance of strengthening foundational learning, Pant noted that conclusions drawn from similar dialogues held in Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh provinces would contribute to effective policy formulation. Lokendra Prasad Bhatta, Head of the Education Branch at the Ministry of Social Development, said that education quality cannot be improved unless literacy, reading, and mathematics skills are effectively imparted at the basic level.