Minister Mahabir Pun Emphasizes Role of Provincial and Local Governments for a Literate Madhesh Province

Janakpur — Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Mahabir Pun, has stated that Madhesh Province can never achieve literacy unless the provincial and local governments take the initiative.

Speaking at a one-day workshop on preparations for the declaration of a "Literate Madhesh Province," organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in Janakpurdham on Sunday, Minister Pun urged the provincial and local governments to actively address education-related issues.

He noted that, historically, the central government has led initiatives while the provincial and local levels have remained passive. He emphasized that now the provincial and local governments should take the lead, with the central government supporting them.

Minister Pun highlighted that the government aims to make Madhesh Province a literate province and said that if all three levels of government work together, the province could soon be declared literate.

He pointed out that politicization in schools is a major reason for the declining quality of education in Madhesh Province. Over 50 percent of education-related complaints nationwide come from Madhesh, he added, noting that school management committees often act arbitrarily, leading to daily grievances from the province.

Minister Pun also revealed that in some schools, teachers are receiving salaries while not a single student is present. He mentioned that a list of such schools is currently being compiled.