The 6th Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools’ Association Nepal (HISSAN) Education Fair kicked off at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall, in Kathmandu, from Thursday. The four-day fair will provide information on colleges and courses targeted for students who gave their Secondary Education Examinations and their class 12 exams.

Speaking in the inauguration programme, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the private education sector is going to face tough competition as the government is planning to raise the quality of community schools. “We will not ask the private education sector to close, but we will create tough competition for them in the near future,” he said.

Oli said that the government will prioritise providing quality education so that students do not feel the necessity to go abroad.

“If a student studies in their own country, they will understand the environment of the country which will make them more responsible towards society and the country,” he said.

He also urged the private sector to invest in the education and health sector, assuring that both sectors are safe for investment. He added that 60 percent development works of the country need to be carried out by the private sector, and the education sector too falls under it. Similarly, he also highlighted the significance of private and public sector partnership in development works.

Likewise, Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokhrel highlighted the importance of new education reforms so that the number of students going abroad for studies will be minimised. He informed that preparation on the forming of school education, higher secondary education, and technical education bills are ongoing.

The introduction of modern technology, such as artificial intelligence, in education has become a need of the current times we live in, he said. “We should focus on providing quality education and the private sector’s contribution will be crucial for that.”

Similarly, Yubaraj Sharma, vice president of Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools’ Association Nepal, said that the association will always work on promoting quality education, eliminating unhealthy competition and providing life skills.

“We aim to bring international students to Nepal by organising programmes such as ‘Study in Nepal’ by improving the quality of education and infrastructure,” he said.