Minister Panta stresses need for greater state focus & investment in public education

KATHMANDU: Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Raghuji Panta, has emphasized the need for increased government investment and attention in improving the quality of public education in Nepal.

Speaking at a meeting of the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives on Thursday—held to discuss the report of the subcommittee on the School Education Bill—Minister Panta said the state must remain committed to free and compulsory education for those who need it most.

“If we fail to provide alternatives to affluent citizens who choose to spend on expensive private schooling, both capital and human resources will flow out of the country,” he warned.

Panta clarified that the government has not retreated from its responsibility to provide free and compulsory education. “This right is for those who truly need it. If even the child of a billionaire wishes to study in a public school, the system must remain open and accessible to all,” he said.

He further suggested that if private schools choose to operate under the guthi (trust) model, they should be granted certain concessions. However, he firmly reiterated that the state’s focus and resources must be directed toward enhancing the quality of public education.

“The government is not against the private sector,” he said. “But the priority must be on improving public education. The state must concentrate on how to make it high-quality and accessible.”

Panta’s remarks underline the government’s aim to strengthen public education without excluding private institutions, while ensuring equitable access and reducing dependency on expensive alternatives abroad.