Education Ministry plans to increase provincial budget share, strengthen local coordination

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Education and Sports is preparing to increase the provincial share of the education budget and strengthen coordination among the three tiers of government to improve the implementation of education programs and the quality of school education.

The ministry announced the plans during a series of three-day orientation and workshop programs conducted across all seven provinces to improve the implementation of annual budgets and programs and make the proposed School Education Act practical, timely and student-centered.

The ministry currently allocates around 70 percent of the federal education budget directly to local governments, while 28 percent goes to federal-level higher education and 2 percent to provincial governments. The ministry is preparing to increase the provincial share in the upcoming budget, according to discussions held during the workshops.

The workshops focused on budget utilization, education quality, the development of necessary procedures and the challenges encountered in implementing programs in the previous fiscal year. Participants also discussed ways to improve coordination among federal, provincial and local governments.

The series, previously held in Sudurpashchim, Karnali and Lumbini provinces, concluded in Madhesh Province on Wednesday, with the participation of federal ministry officials, Department of Education representatives, district-level education officials and education section heads from local governments.