By Ram Gaire, Program Manager
The National Campaign for Education Nepal (NCE) has been working at the national and grassroots level on the implementation of the Abidjan Principles since their adoption in February 2019. In the context of COVID-19, more than 2,500 stakeholders have been sensitised on the need to regulate the private actors during the pandemic, and the importance of the State obligations with regard to public education.
Radio discussions on the role of local governments in monitoring private actors and alternatives have been organised in 15 districts. The programs were focused on applying the Abidjan Principles for the improvement of quality education in public schools during COVID-19, and on how local government has to ensure its accountability and monitor private actors. Local governments were made aware of the Abidjan Principles, to take these as guidelines in the formation of the education act at the local level.
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day 2020, NCE Nepal district coordination committee in 25 districts advocated at the local level for the adaptation of the major provisions of the Abidjan Principles as well as ensuring “Education as a right”. Contextualisation and localisation of the Abidjan Principles into the local language was made and disseminated to the larger stakeholders including the federal, province and local governments.
As a result of this continuous engagement, there have been some positive changes. The role of State regarding the monitoring of private actors of education, the need of reducing privatisation in education and strengthening the public education system have been included in the National Education Policy, the Fifteenth five-year plan of Nepal, as well as on some Local Education Act and Policies.
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