Nepal National Framework on SDG 4 Education 2030: Information dissemination in Gandaki Province

With the technical and expert support of UNESCO, in 2019 the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology developed, approved, and published the SDG 4 Education 2030 Nepal National Framework. This framework has been a major guiding document in strengthening the education system in the country and includes the national vision, objectives, priority areas, and strategic approaches to align with SDG 4 and its targets.

To share and disseminate information about the Framework and help the provincial and local governments of the Gandaki Province develop a new education plan in alignment with SDG 4, UNESCO organized a virtual event on 18 July 2021, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Science, Technology and Social Development of the province. Thirty-seven participants including members of the Gandaki Province Assembly, representatives from the Ministry, Education Directorate, local government, headteachers, and the Chief of Education Development and Coordination Unit attended the workshop.

In his welcome remarks, Ramchandra Sharma, Director, Centre for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD) highlighted the objectives of the event.

Dr Balaram Timalsina from UNESCO shared the overview of SDGs, particularly SDG 4 and its targets and indicators. “All the three tiers of the government play an important role in achieving the SDG4 and its targets, and UNESCO is committed to supporting the government to achieve these,” he said.

Baikuntha Prasad Aryal, Director General of CEHRD, highlighted the vision, mission, objectives, strategies, and indicators of the Framework.

Chief Guest of the event, Netranath Adhikari, Speaker, Gandaki Province Assembly, expressed his commitment to the Framework, saying, “The Assembly will develop the necessary acts and regulations to facilitate the implementation of the National Framework in the province.

The chair of the programme, Binod Bahadur Kunwar, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Science, Technology and Social Development, expounded on the province’s activities. He assured the gathering that the Ministry would follow the Framework and accelerate the implementation of educational activities. “Provincial governments are closer to local governments. Therefore the provincial government will work closely with the local governments and develop local level action plans, as they play a major role in achieving SDG4 and its targets,” stated Kunwar.