Opinion | A case for an increase in education budget
Summary
Nepal's education budget has hovered around 10-11% of the national budget, below the global commitment of 20%, with calls to increase investment to improve learning outcomes and reduce dropout rates.
Key Points
- Nepal's education budget has declined from 17.1% in 2011-12 to about 10.75% currently, below the committed 20%.
- Around 90% of the education budget is spent on salaries, leaving minimal funds for quality improvement and resources.
- Student learning achievements are low, with concerns about dropout rates linked to employability doubts after education.
- There is a call for gradual increase in education budget and investments in teacher quality, equipment, digital tools, and curriculum updates.
- The current government focuses on digitalisation but needs to increase investment to improve educational outcomes effectively.
