Birendranagar declares fiscal year 2083/84 as ‘Year of Educational Reform’

Surkhet—Birendranagar Municipality in Surkhet has declared the current fiscal year 2083/84 as the ‘Year of Educational Reform’.

The municipality has launched various transformative programs aimed at making significant improvements in school education.

According to Mayor Mohanmaya Dhakal, plans to be implemented include the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in school education, a digital teacher bank, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, performance contracts, and a scholarship fund worth two crore rupees.

A ten-year education sector plan has also been introduced to develop Birendranagar as an excellent educational center.

Digital Teacher Bank and Teaching Improvement Plan

To address the shortage of subject teachers in community schools, the municipality plans to establish a ‘digital teacher bank’ this year. Qualified teachers will be selected through this bank to fill vacant positions.

Efforts will be made to modernize and enhance the municipal learning facilitation center, particularly to reduce the shortage of teachers in English, Mathematics, and Science. Additionally, improvements will be made to the physical infrastructure and teaching-learning standards of early childhood development (ECD) classes to build a strong foundation for learning.

Scholarships and Special Education for Talented Students

The municipality, in collaboration with Mid-Western University, is set to launch a scholarship fund worth two crore rupees.

This fund will provide financial assistance to talented students within the municipality for higher education.

Plans have also been made to establish an early learning center for children with autism.

Funds from the ‘I Build, My Municipality Education Development Fund’ will be mobilized to provide scholarships to as many targeted students as possible.

Accountability, Capacity Building, and Think Tank

Performance contracts will be made with principals and teachers to improve the quality of education.

Based on annual school results, investments in community schools will be increased accordingly.

In collaboration with Mid-Western University and Surkhet Multiple Campus, programs for teacher mentoring and capacity building will be conducted to enhance educational quality.

Additionally, a ‘Birendranagar Think Tank’ group comprising retired teachers and staff will be established to provide consultation on educational policies and plans.

Partnerships and ‘Mayor in the Classroom’ Program

Training programs will be conducted to develop the capacity of teachers providing education in English medium.

The municipality has adopted a policy to partner with interested NGOs and private educational institutions to improve learning outcomes in schools.

Furthermore, the ‘Mayor in the Classroom’ program, where the mayor will interact with students in classrooms, has been included in this year’s policy, program, and budget.

These initiatives are expected to bring significant improvements to the educational sector in Birendranagar.