National Guidelines in Nepal - Education

Basic, Primary and Secondary Education Programs

Responding to the illiteracy problem, the government formulated a special education policy for women in 1992. The main objectives of this policy are to increase female literacy and educational levels through formal and informal education. The Basic and Primary Education Program (1992) (BPEP) is directed at the improvement of women's and girls' education and contributes to the advancement of women's social status. In 1991/92, the Ministry of Education also established a separate Women's Education Section, to strengthen the school educational system. This program includes a special women's non-formal education component.

Concerning formal education, the BPEP includes:

1. special scholarships for girls at primary, secondary, intermediate and campus levels;
2. recruitment and preparation of female teachers;
3. advocacy through various media channels; and follow-up and community awareness programs.

The prime objective is to create an awareness of the importance and benefit of women's education. Compulsory recruitment of female teachers is another component of this program. The need for separate sanitation facilities for girls in all schools, the elimination of gender bias in the curriculum, textbooks and examination questions, and the inclusion of gender awareness training in training programs are also proposed in the Secondary Education Program (SEP).

Concerning the non formal education programs, the objectives of the non formal education policies of the Government as described in BPEP 1996/97 are:

1. to achieve literacy for most women over 15;
2. to reduce gender difference in literacy rates by increasing women's literacy;
3. to develop functional knowledge and skills to promote a healthy environment at home and in the family and community. Non formal education for women comprises the three elements of basic literacy, post-literacy and skills' training.