Kathmandu, 13 September (H.S.): The Nepal government is preparing to introduce the ‘Book-Free Friday’ and ‘Skill in Education’ concepts nationwide from the next academic session, with the objective of making school education more practical and skill-oriented.

Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel said the government aims to implement the ‘Book-Free Friday’ and ‘Skill in Education’ programmes from the next academic session to ensure that students are not confined to textbooks alone but are exposed to practical knowledge, skills and life-oriented education. He said the national curriculum framework for school education is being revised in view of changing times, technological advancements and employment requirements. A task force has been formed for the purpose, and suggestions are being sought from students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders across the country.

The minister said a new curriculum would be prepared on the basis of the suggestions received, following which the process of printing textbooks in accordance with the revised curriculum would be initiated. Minister Pokharel said the existing curriculum is not fully equipped to provide life-oriented and practical education in line with contemporary requirements. Therefore, the new curriculum would be developed with the needs and future of the new generation at its core.

Shailendra Jha, the Education Minister’s chief adviser, said suggestions are being collected by reaching out to communities and engaging with students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to make the national curriculum framework more effective and implementable. He stressed the need to make education contemporary, practical, technology-friendly and relevant to everyday life.

Mahendra Parajuli, Executive Director of the Curriculum Development Centre, said the task force constituted to revise the national curriculum framework is working on the exercise. The new curriculum will be implemented effectively after making the necessary amendments based on the suggestions received.

Workshops held across all seven provinces have generated suggestions for making school education more practical, skill-oriented, technology-friendly and employment-focused. Participants said the curriculum should not merely equip students to use technology but should also enable them to develop and create technology.

In Koshi Province, participants emphasised the need to focus on effective implementation rather than repeatedly changing the curriculum. They also pointed out that implementing a new curriculum would be difficult without ensuring adequate teacher availability.

From Madhes Province, suggestions were made to include subjects such as moral and Sanskrit education, artificial intelligence and computer technology, climate change, ‘green schools’, technical education and cybersecurity in the curriculum.

Participants from Bagmati Province suggested giving priority to Eastern philosophy, Sanskrit and moral education, local knowledge, skills and culture, along with a ‘community curriculum’ and ‘nature learning’.

Gandaki Province suggested making the curriculum more scientific and practical, prioritising skill-based education, and making the assessment system disability-friendly. Participants from Sudurpaschim Province proposed reducing working hours, giving priority to human values education, and narrowing the content gap between Grades 10 and 11. Meanwhile, participants from Karnali Province suggested revising the curriculum after assessing the human resources that would be required over the next 15 to 20 years.

According to the Curriculum Development Centre, in the first phase, consultations are being held with students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders in 28 districts across all seven provinces to gather their suggestions. In the second phase, the exercise will be expanded to all 77 districts of the country to collect further feedback.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar