KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Bidya Bhattarai, emphasized her commitment to implementing a new education act as her top priority. After taking office at Singha Durbar, she announced that the bill currently under discussion in parliament would be advanced soon. Her initial actions included enforcing a nutrition development program in schools tailored to local needs and forming a committee, coordinated by a joint secretary, to ensure the effective enforcement of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Minister Bhattarai acknowledged the challenges of providing quality education in community schools and highlighted her responsibility to enhance their appeal. She also stressed the importance of adhering to the educational calendar in universities and retaining students within the country, stating, “It’s time for universities to focus on keeping their graduates in the country, and I will work devotedly towards this goal.”

A representative of the CPN UML, Bhattarai began her political career during the student movement of 2046 BS and later served as the chief of the women’s department of ANNFSU in 2050 BS. She was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in a by-election held after her husband, Rabindra Adhikari, died in a helicopter crash in 2075 BS and was re-elected in the 2079 BS general election. Before her political career, she was a permanent teacher at Ratna Rajya Campus.