5.4 Democratic reform period (2046 BS Onward)

          The people's movement of 2046/47 BS toppled Panchayat System, and re-established multi-party democracy. It brought a change in every sector. Obviously education could not be an escape from it. Consequently a commission was formed on 14 Falgun 2047 BS to maintain decent environment in education by resolving the problems and inconsistencies seen in the educational sectors. The National Education Commission was formed on 14 Falgun 2047 BS under the chairmanship of Keshar Jung Rayamajhi. However, this commission could not complete its assigned tasks on time. So, the commission was reformed under the leadership of then education minister Govinda Raj Joshi.

          The commission submitted its proposal in 2049 BS which mentioned the national objectives of education framework and policy of primary education, secondary and higher secondary education, higher education, normal and technical education, Sanskrit education technical as well as vocational education, teacher education, special education, informal education, financial management of educational sector, educational management and observation etc. This commission also mentioned pre-primary education in different subjects, about the private schools, textbooks and evaluation, library, extracurricular activities etc. The followings are the main features recommended in National Education Commission, 2049 BS:

1.     The determination of education system is based on the fundamental rights and directive principles of the constitution of Nepal, 2047 B.S

2.      It has focused on formal and informal education to extend education and to make it easily accessible for all.

3.     By making formal and informal education complementary to each other, it was emphasized to include vocational and technical education into the educational main stream.

4.     It reconstructed the educatioonal structure of Nepal by taking into consideration the educational structures of neighbur countries.

5.     It has brought the concept of regional un universities to decentralize the opportunity of higher education.

6.     It has encouraged the private sectictors to involve in educational field.

7.     It has emphasized tje qiamtotatove as we;; as qialitative development of education.

Likewisem Basic and Primary Education Project (BPEP) was lunched in 1991 consisting of primary education for Rural Development (Seti Project) of 1981 and Primary Education Project (PEP) of 1984, The report of National Education Commission 1992 had reconstructed the basic and primary education. And BPEP - I was lunched t have extensive development in primary education. BPEP-I has been launched in all 75 districts.

           BPEP-I aimed at providing necessary trainings for the teachers, carrying out effective supervision, developing physical and educational facilities and enhancing people participation and awareness for educational development. Similarly, Basic and Primary Education Project-II 1996 (BPEP II) was the continuity of BPEP- 1. The successful completion of BPEP facilitated the implementation of it in the second phase. Actually BPEP was launched from 1991 to 2001 AD. It was implemented to change primary education into basic education, enhance the access of all primary education and develop its quality. In fact, Educational Project for Rural Development and Primary Education Project were implemented before the implementation of BPEP-I. BPEP-I was launched in 1991 AD since those education projects had been implemented successfully in educational field.

          Likewise, this period witnessed a number of international efforts to ensure access of all to education. 'Education for all' is a concept that is formally introduced in a world conference on education held in 1990 in Jomtein city of Thailand in a bid to enhance access of all to education. Later, in 2000 AD, a conference of World Education Forum was held in Dakar city of Senegal. Dakar conference reviewed the goal of Jometein conference and committed to bring the concept into implementation. Dakar conference floated a six-point goal to be accomplished from 2001 to 2015 AD. The conference prioritized to make all nations able to provide primary education for all citizens. Government of Nepal has also prepared National Action Plan of Nepal 2001-2015 to accomplish the goal of Dakar conference.

 EDUCATION AFTER 2063 B.S

          However National Education Commission, 2049 BS and the report of High Level National Education Commission, 2055 tried to make education useful, scientific and relevant to the national needs and aspirations, it is crystal clear that the present education has been unable to meet its target. Consequently a huge gap remains prevalent regarding education between the poor and rich people. Nepal has also faced political regression which ultimately has given reverse result in education, too. Now the people movement of 2062-63 BS has again restored democracy, and Nepal has institutionalized republican democracy as political system. And, the educational sector of Nepal is seeking for such education that can really address the need of Nepali people in real sense.

Educational policy mentioned in constitution

          It is encouraging that the right of education is for the first time indludeded as a fundamental right of the people in Interim Constitution 2063BS. In part 3, subpart 17", the right of education and culture has heen mentioned as a fundamental right.The costitution also has  mentioned about the educational right of people of Nepl in the constitution 2074 in Article 31 the right of people of nepal has guranted for the free and compoulsary education for basic level and free education for school level and as follows:

1.     Each and every community has a right to get education in their mother language as managed in the law.

2.     Each and every citizen has a right to get free education and compulsary education up to basic level and free education up to secondary level by the state as managed in law.

3.     Each and every citizen, inhabitant of Nepal, has a right to preserve and improve their language, script, culture, cultural civilization and heritage

          As such Constitution of Nepal has included the right of education as a fundamental right of people which can be taken as a positive aspect of the constitution.