Kathmandu. While the issue of state and private sector partnership in the education sector is being raised, the private sector and financial investors who have invested more than 5 billion are going through great confusion and disappointment due to the lack of policy clarity.
Prioritizing this debate, during a panel discussion on ‘Private Sector Investment in Education’ held recently at ‘The Plaza’ in Lalitpur, government officials, private sector and banking sector personalities pointed out that policy ambiguity is affecting both investment and trust, and emphasized that the education sector should be developed with a long-term perspective.
The state does not chase businesses within the legal framework – Shivkumar Sapkota
शिक्षा तथा खेलकुद मन्त्रालयका सहसचिव शिवकुमार सापकोटाले कानुनी मापदण्डभित्र रहेर सञ्चालन भएका निजी शैक्षिक संस्थाहरूलाई राज्यले कुनै पनि हालतमा निरुत्साहित नगर्ने स्पष्ट पारे। नेपालको संविधानले माध्यमिक शिक्षालाई निःशुल्क बनाउने परिकल्पना गरे पनि व्यवहारमा शिक्षा क्षेत्रमा निजी लगानीको महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका रहेको उनले बताए।
According to him, the government alone cannot mobilize the necessary resources in the education sector, so now the public and private sectors are moving towards a partnership model. It is necessary to continue private investment in education and move it towards a service system. Whatever the body that runs the school should be accountable to the children,” he said.
Urging the private sector to work within the legal framework, he made it clear that the state will not chase businesses that are under the protection of the law. The state protects those who abide by the law. The problem comes when legal standards are violated,” he said.
‘Private sector in confusion due to lack of clear policy’
Yuvraj Sharma, President of Higher Education and Secondary Schools Association of Nepal (HISAN) and Director of Himalayan White House IB World School, said that the private education sector is in a state of confusion and insecurity due to lack of clear laws, rules and regulations.
According to him, more than five billion rupees have been invested in about 8,000 private educational institutions operating across the country, and more than three lakh people have been employed. Recalling that in the past, private schools were operating under the Companies Act as per the policy of the state, he complained that the state is not providing adequate policy protection. “Yesterday, the state encouraged the need for the private sector. Today, because there is no clear law, this area is feeling insecure,” he said.
Sharma said that in order to solve the problems in the education sector, cooperation between the government and the private sector is not necessary. We are always ready for dialogue. However, the state should understand the contribution and investment of the private sector,” he emphasized.
Banks will not invest in education if there is a round-the-clock policy.
Manoj Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nabil Bank has emphasized the need for a long-term and clear policy to increase investment in the education sector. He warned that the banking sector would not be ready to expand investment if the policy confusion was maintained by interpreting education as a mere service.
He informed that about three percent of the total banking investment is in the education sector and said that Nabil Bank alone has invested more than 22 billion rupees. He said, “The bank mobilizes the deposits of common people. We cannot take risks unless we believe that the investment will be safe and the returns will come.
He said that the trend of changing the education policy with the change of government has discouraged both the private sector and the banking sector. He made it clear, ‘Banks cannot invest with confidence if they invest today and there is a problem tomorrow due to a policy change.’
‘Education is not the only cause of student migration’
Principal and Director of S Institute of Management Dr. Ashish Tiwari said that the reason why Nepali students go abroad is not only education but also related to economic, social and future security.
According to him, despite the expansion of investment and infrastructure in the education sector in recent years, young people have been forced to go abroad because jobs and opportunities have not been created accordingly. It is not enough for us to give certificates. “Education should be linked with industry, market and technology,” he said.
He presented the fact that about 50 percent of the students who have completed graduation go abroad for further studies and careers. However, he said that there is a positive trend that most of the students who complete their post-graduate studies in Nepal are looking for opportunities within the country. Dr. Tiwari said that attention should be paid to timely curriculum, technology-friendly teaching system and quality improvement. Otherwise, he warned, it will be difficult to stop the current situation of talent flight.
Advocate and engineer Umesh Rupakheti played the role of moderator during the panel discussion.