The MoE has recently constituted a taskforce to determine terms and conditions for the proposed board. The taskforce, headed by joint secretary Janardan Nepal, chief of the planning section at MoE, is expected to submit its report in this regard before December 15.[break]
In the policy document of the SSRP, the much vaunted plan for overhauling the country´s existing education system is, however, conspicuously silent over the form, rights and functions of the NEB.
In the backdrop of the SSRP document´s ambiguity vis-à-vis the NEB, a question over the future of Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) and Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), which have separate examination boards in their respective fields, looms large.
"An important question about the future of the HSEB and CTEVT, especially after the full-fledged promulgation of the SSRP, still remains unresolved," said education expert Dr Bishnu Karki, who was also involved in drafting the SSRP policy document. "Hence, the formation of a taskforce to determine terms and conditions of the NEB is an important step."
Officials at education ministry say the NEB will function as an integrated apex body for conducting exams for all school-students. Currently, different bodies for conducting School Leaving Certificate (SLC), higher secondary and CTEVT examinations have been functioning separately.
Guidelines ready
According to Nakul Baniya, under secretary at the education ministry, a guideline for implementing the SSRP in secondary level -- grade 9-12 -- has already been chalked out. In tune with this guideline, the education ministry has recently formed 10 separate taskforces under four different themes. All taskforces, headed by high-level government officials, will submit their reports to the ministry.
"All taskforces have been given different deadlines," Baniya said, adding, "Once all taskforces submit their reports to the ministry, the possible structure of new secondary level education will become clear to an extent."
The MoE has constituted taskforces to amend contradictory acts, prepare a guideline for alternative education, and integrate higher secondary education with existing school level education, among other tasks, in a bid to implement the SSRP at secondary level from 2012.
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