Kathmandu, Sept 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that quality and life skills education is priority of the present government, while ensuring the fundamental right to education.    

In a message today on the occasion of the 58th International Literacy Day, he said that the priority of the government is to provide quality education to all school-going-age children and opportunities for life skills education for citizens above school age.    

According to UNESCO, the International Literacy Day is observed on 8 September every year since 1967, to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.    

Stating that literacy and life skills programs are being implemented along with the introduction of the Compulsory and Free Education Act, 2075 BS, the Prime Minister has called for united efforts of all concerned to transform illiteracy into literacy.    

Prime Minister Oli recalled that the previous government under his leadership started a nation-wide student enrollment campaign and implemented mid-day meals, scholarships and other

incentives to prevent children from dropping out from school. “Since technology-friendly literacy and skills are the need of the hour, the government is working based on a plan to provide technology-friendly education”, Oli said,

“The role of the private sector, civil society organizations and others should be made effective by linking education with employment and self-employment.”    

He said that Nepal is moving towards becoming a fully literate country while working towards fulfilling the national aspiration of a ‘prosperous Nepal and happy Nepalis’.    

The International Literacy Day this year is being celebrated under the theme ‘Promotion of Multilingual Education: Education for Mutual Understanding and Peace’.  (RSS)