KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 23UNESCO, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), held a two-day validation workshop on 21-22 October 2024 to complete a new resource book on Local Education Planning.
The workshop combined over 30 policymakers, specialists, advancement partners, and federal government representatives to boost the capability of local towns in designing and carrying out education plans that cater to varied populations.
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The federal government already has a preparation standard in location, and this resource book will help in emerging and carrying out the strategy.
Similarly, Baikuntha Aryal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education Science and Technology highlight the need of additional resource to facilitate the procedure of regional education preparation.
After the federalization, Nepal advances in decentralizing its education system and city governments are tasked with developing localized education strategies.
To ensure these strategies are inclusive and aligned with global dedications, UNESCO has actually been supporting local governments in both the advancement and execution of these strategies.
The resource book, now being settled, will be instrumental in supporting local governments efficiently plan and carry out education systems that accommodate diverse populations, consisting of women, youth, and marginalized neighborhoods.
This workshop is vital in guaranteeing that the resource book reflects the diverse educational needs of municipalities.From the lessons found out through the development of the regional education plan and the appraisal done thereafter for the pilot municipalities, and international practices, it provides actionable guidance for city governments beyond the targeted areas.
Through seminar, analysis, and discussions, policymakers, professionals, development partners and government authorities have contributed valuable input to shape the last resource book.
This practical guide will support local governments to develop, appraise, and implement education plans tailored to their particular contexts.
It is essential that the standards in the resource book matter and practical for all local governments.
The book must resolve local contexts, prospective gaps, and offer assistance during the advancement and execution of regional education plans, stated Am Gagnon- Senior Programme Specialist -Data and Evidence Lead from UNESCOs International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) highlighting the value of collaborative efforts in between UNESCO, Nepals federal government, and IIEP for the future of education in Nepal.The initiative to develop contextualized, inclusive education strategies began with an orientation in December 2022, guiding regional and provincial federal governments in focusing on educational needs.
These strategies address formal and non-formal education, environment modification, culture, ethnic background, gender, and youth point of views.
Building on this momentum, 7 towns representing all seven provinces of Nepal have currently established their education plans.
The training and guidance supplied by IIEP have contributed in enhancing the technical skills of local government authorities in areas such as preparation, resource management, and budgeting.Other towns throughout Nepal are also in the procedure of establishing their plans.
UNESCO and IIEPs technical support have actually been key in bridging the space between local education needs and nationwide policies, empowering regional leaders to develop education plans rooted in native understanding and boosted by digital tools like media and details literacy.Reiterating the collaboration between UNESCO and the government for strengthening education systems, particularly at the policy level, Dhruba Raj Regmi, Chief of Education at UNESCO, worried on the development of a singular guiding book to more extend and enhance the efforts.
Theres an urgent requirement for practical, easy to use standards for all regional bodies.
Once completed, the resource book in advancement will support these efforts to enhance education at the regional level in Nepal, Regmi stated.Through the Capacity Development for Education (CapED) Literacy Programme, funded by Government of Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland, UNESCO effectively assisted seven city government bodies from across Nepal in creating gender-responsive and inclusive education strategies in 2015.
Structure on this development, the existing workshop is pivotal in completing the resource book.
Once verified, this book will be a valuable asset for city government throughout Nepal, offering them with the tools and knowledge to produce context-driven, inclusive education plans.This initiative is a presentation of the ongoing collaboration between UNESCO, MoEST, and city governments, ensuring that education in Nepal is both fair and forward-looking, contributing to a more inclusive and transformative future.
This short article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com