Sumana Shrestha, Nepal’s new Education Minister, vows to reform university leadership and quality

March 7, Kathmandu: Sumana Shrestha, the newly appointed Minister for Education, Science and Technology, has announced her plans to amend the laws governing the appointment of chancellors and vice-chancellors of the country’s 11 universities. She said she would seek to appoint experts in their fields as the heads of the universities, rather than political appointees.

Minister Shrestha assumed her office at Singha Durbar on Wednesday evening and instructed the officials to initiate steps to enhance the quality of education and curb political interference in academic institutions. She also said she would make a policy decision after studying the reasons why many Nepali youths pursue higher education abroad.

She further emphasized that she would facilitate the discussion of the School Education Bill 2080, which is pending in the Parliamentary Committee. The bill aims to reform the school education system and curriculum.

The minister was welcomed by the secretaries of the ministry, Suresh Adhikari and Pramila Devi Acharya. Shrestha, a lawmaker of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party, has a background as a management consultant, entrepreneur and activist.