Commercialising education not good for society: PM

Kathmandu, Feb. 23 (RSS): The 26th Education Day today was celebrated with various programmes throughout the country.

At a function organised on the occasion, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala gave away the Birendra education national and regional shields, flags, certificates and cash prizes to various schools.

Dipendra Police Boarding Secondary School at Sanga, Kavre came out first this year to win a cash prize of Rs 100,000/ and the Birendra education national shield, flag and certificate.

Likewise, Alejiya Secondary Boarding School Biratnagar from the Eastern Region, Siddhartha Vanasthali Secondary School, Balaju in Kathmandu from the Central Region, Gandaki Residential Secondary School Lamachaur, Kaski from the Western Region and Tulsi Residential Secondary School, Tulsipur Dang from the Mid-Western Region Bagged Rs. 50,000 each and the regional shields, flags and certificates.

Prime Minister Koirala also presented cash prizes to the winners of the national athletics competition. The Central Region, Mid-Western Region and Western Region came out first, second and third respectively while the Eastern Region and Far Western Region received consolation prizes.

Damber Kumari Budhayar, a student athlete from the Far Western Region received cash prize of Rs. 2,000 and a track suit from the Jyoti Academy. Miss Budhayar came out first in the 5,000 meter race in the secondary school level sports competition organised on the occasion of Education Day. She came out second in the 3,000 and 1,500 meter races.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala pointed out the need for all those involved in the education sector to not commercialise education but take it as the best medium of social service.

Commercialising education and keeping it out of the reach of the lower and backward sectors will throw entire society out of balance, he added.

He also emphasised the need to make the education curriculum more vocational and self-employment oriented.

Accepting the fact that education is the main basis of development, a big portion of the national budget has been allocated for the development of the education sector, but the returns are not encouraging in comparison with the investment made, Prime Minister Koirala said adding that His Majesty’s Government is committed to wiping out the weaknesses and shortcomings in this sector.

But government effort alone will not be sufficient in this task and everyone concerned will have to make an active contribution, he added.

Education Day celebration committee chairman and Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyaya said everything can run through a market-oriented economy and the 20-year education plan in technical and vocational education has been introduced in order to encourage education aimed at making the individual and society self-reliant.

Minister of State for Education Dilendra Badu and secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports Khagendra Basnet also expressed their views.

A cultural programme was also presented on the occasion.

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