Day: May 12, 2024

Kathmandu: The government has informed the Speaker, Devraj Ghimire, and major political parties' chief whips in parliament about the upcoming fiscal year's policy and programme. At a meeting convened on Sunday by Speaker Ghimire and attended by chief whips of major political parties, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri shared the issues of upcoming fiscal year's policy and programme. After the meeting, Minister Giri said that he informed the Speaker and chief whips of the major political parties about the government's policy and programme to be unveiled in parliament on May 14 and added that the Nepali Congress should cooperate with the government in this issue. According to Minister Giri, Speaker Ghimire urged the main opposition and other political parties to move ahead on the basis of consensus on advancing the presentation of the government's policy and programme. Minister Giri argued that obstructing the House business from the main opposition party seems inappropriate and asked the NC to present itself in a more responsible manner. Likewise, chief whip of NC Ramesh Lekhak stated that he reiterated the issue of parliamentary probe committee to investigate the accusations on cooperative scams. "The government is not ensuring justice to the opponent by creating situation for the obstruction of parliamentary business," Lekhak added. He argued that parliament was the right platform to raise the issue of alleged misappropriations of cooperatives' funds. Source: National News Agency Nepal

The pass rate of Technical Education Board in the Secondary School Certificate and equivalent examinations is 81.38 percent while 4,078 students secured GPA-5. Among the GPA-5 holders, 2, 141 are female students while the number of male GPA-5 holder students is 1,937. In terms of pass rate, Jashore Education Board has secured the top position among 11 education boards with 92.33 percent pass rate while Sylhet Board witnessed the lowest pass rate of 73.35. The pass rates of other boards are: 89.26 percent in Rajshahi Board, 89.13 percent in Barishal Board, 85 percent in Mymensingh Board, 83.92 percent in Dhaka Board, 82.80 percent in Chattogram Board, 79.66 percent in the Madrasah Board, 79.23 percent in Cumilla Board and 78.33 percent in Dinajpur Board. A total of 20, 13,597 examinees appeared in the SSC and equivalent examinations this year. Of them, 16, 72,153 students passed the examinations. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Chairperson of Nepal Nursing Association (NNA), Prof Man Kumari Rai, has demanded the government that it increased nursing quota. During a programme organized to mark the 14th national convention of NNA and the International Nursing Day here Sunday, Chairperson Rai informed that number of nurses was inadequate as compared to patients' flow. "If government increases nursing quota, it creates employment and ensures quality service to the patients," she reminded. Rai also expressed worry over meagre facilities to which government needs to pay heed. On the occasion, Hira Kumari Niraula, Director at Nursing and Social Security Division under the Department of Health, underlined the need for augmenting investment in nursing in Nepal. "Nursing schemes have been expanded eg in schools, which needs more number of such caregivers. This scheme has been proved beneficial for school children's physical and mental health," she reminded. Similarly, Assistant Dean (administration) at Institute of Medicine, TU, Prof Takma KC, argued investment in nurse will boost country's economy. "Education, training, employment and facilities are the areas that warrant government's proper attention," added. Nepal Medical Association's Chairman Dr Anil Bikram Karki expressed worry why future of health workers was not secure although many health and medical workers were produced every year within the country. "It is appalling that the skilled workforces produced in the country are forced to think of abroad job and run from one place to another for visa applications immediately after completing necessary education here. Health and medical workers are such workforces which do not even get leave on Workers' Day," he said, questioning the government why it was delaying creation of further quotas for nurses. According to NNA, there are 82,471 nurses in Nepal now. Among them, 1,507 are specialist nurses. The government sector has employed 18,000 nurses while private sector also employs in similar number. Sizable number of nurse- 20,0 00 are jobless. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Jashore Education Board has secured the top position among 11 education boards with 92.33 percent pass rate in the SSC and equivalent examinations this year, according to the results published here today. Sylhet Education Board witnessed lowest pass rate as 73.35 percent examinees in the board have become successful this year. The pass rates of other nine education boards are: 89.26 percent in Rajshahi Board, 89.13 percent in Barishal Board, 85 percent in Mymensingh Board, 83.92 percent in Dhaka Board, 82.80 percent in Chattogram Board, 81.38 percent in the Technical Education Board, 79.66 percent in the Madrasah Board, 79.23 percent in Cumilla Board and 78.33 percent in Dinajpur Board. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Kami Rita Sherpa has set a new record in the ascents of the world's highest peak, the Sagarmatha (Mt Everest), by reaching atop the peak for the 29th times on Sunday. The Sherpa climber broke his own record to set a new one in the spring expedition of the 8,848.86 metres high mountain. The 54-year-old record-holder originally hails from Thame village of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu rural municipality in Solukhumbu district. Rakesh Gurung, Director at the Adventure Tourism and Mountaineering Section under the Department of Tourism, confirmed that Kami Rita Sherpa scaled the highest mountain for the record 29th times on Sunday morning. Kami Rita, who first climbed the Everest on May 13 in 1994, also holds the record of most ascents of the peaks above 8,000 metres. He is the only mountaineer bagging the record of highest number of ascents of Mt Everest since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary first set their feet atop the Everest on May 29, 1953. Trailing in the record setting spree in Everest climb is Daw a Sherpa of Solukhumbu district who scaled the Everest for the 27th times last spring. Director Gurung shared that over 70 climbers had the footfall on the world's tallest natural tower since the spring expedition commenced this year. Ten Sherpa members of the rope fixing team ascended the Everest last Friday night, opening the route to peak for altogether 414 adventurers obtaining permit to climb the Everest in this season. Source: National News Agency Nepal

A total of 298 students of eight foreign centres have come out successful in the SSC examinations this year with 85.88 percent pass rate. A total of 347 overseas students appeared in the SSC examinations this year, according to the results published here today. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply, Damodar Bhandari, has opined that relocation of Kathmandu valley industries would contribute to better urbanization. Minister Bhandari said it while receiving a memorandum from the Grill and Steel Entrepreneurs' Federation Nepal in the ministry on Sunday. "In the developed countries, industries are located away from urban area; we can also mull separate safe places for industries," he reiterated. He however said it is government's duty to create necessary infrastructures for industries. The Minister also vowed to address most of the demands of the Federation. Minister Bhandari suggested the Federation that it adopted new technology as per time need. According to him, we can not compete in the global market with continuous reliance of import of raw materials. The foreign items must be replaced, he suggested. A delegation led by Federation Chairman Thulo Babu Shrestha met the Minister and demanded him that he took initiatives to up custom tariff on imp ort of the products which Nepal itself produces in the country. The Minister assured the delegation that he would coordinate with Finance Ministry to address the genuine demands. He also pledged ministry support for adoption of new technology in the grill industries. The Federation put forth seven demands, including creation of atmosphere conducive for it. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government is bringing changes to the curriculum and the method of education mainly to cut dependency on learning through memorisation to flourish talents and creativity of the students. "We want our children not only to learn by heart rather they get scope to flourish talents and creativity as they can move ahead with their merits. So, changes are being made in the curriculum and education method," she said. The premier made the remarks while unveiling the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations-2024, digitally by clicking a button at her official Ganabhaban residence here. She said her government has introduced pre-primary education to teach the children through play. "There is a way to educate the children through toys and we are creating that scope," she said. One child can easily learn the name of seven continents through jumping one to another continent on a world map, she opined. "We have to do such many things as t he children can learn through playing. If we do so, they don't have need book-learning," she said. In doing so, the premier said her government is giving necessary training to the teachers and increasing their salaries and other benefits. She said her government has attached topmost priority on education as they can know that no nation can develop without education. "Our target is to eradicate poverty. Poverty alleviation is not possible without an educated nation. So, we consider expenses in education as investment," she said. The prime minister said her government wants to prepare an appropriate education system to cope with the competitive world. She said her government is prioritising science, technology, information and vocational education alongside the regular education. "Our children will not only do BA and MA, but also will be educated in science, technology, information technology and vocational literacy to make them prepared completely," she said. Sheikh Hasina released the results after rec eiving the combined result statistics of the SSC and equivalent examinations from Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury. The chairmen of 10 education boards - nine general, one madrasa-- and director general of technical education board also handed over the result statistics of their respective boards to the premier. The results were published at the respective educational institutions and online simultaneously around 11am. Students can avail their results through SMS after the official announcement. They can also get their results by visiting the website www.educationboardresults.gov.bd. Around 20, 24,192 students of 29,735 educational institutions appeared in the SSC and equivalent examinations at 3,700 centres. Starting on February 15 last, the exams concluded on March 12. Referring to increased number of female students both in pass and participation rate in the SSC exams, Sheikh Hasina asked all concerned to find out the reason that why the number of male students decreases. "We have to ex plore the reason that why male students are less compared to female students," she said. Even in the passing rate, the female students outnumbered the male which appears to be good, she added. "We have to look into the matter," she said, asking the boards' chairmen to look for the cause after returning to their respective work places. Sheikh Hasina said they have taken several measures including setting up 12 science and technology universities to increase the rate of technical education. As a result, the technical education rate has risen to 22 percent which was only 7 percent in 1996 when the Awami League government assumed power for the first time, she said. "We have a target to increase technical education rate to 30 percent by 2030 and 41 percent by 2041," she said. She continued that her government is establishing a technical training school in every upazila to spread the technical education. The prime minister expressed her hope that the children will work for the welfare of the country and its people and will be smart citizens of Bangladesh after being educated. She congratulated the students who passed the SSC and equivalent exams and asked those who could not pass this time to read attentively to become succeeded next time. "Don't be disheartened. Take preparation properly for the next time," she added. The premier also asked the guardians not to rebuke them (who didn't pass the examination) as they can take any step after being frustrated. Rather, encourage them to pay more attention to education for the next exams, she said. Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, PM's Education Adviser Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and State Minister for Education Begum Shamsun Naher spoke on the occasion. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Lawmakers have underscored on preserving the properties of Tribhuvan University (TU). Speaking in the discussions related to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in the meeting of the House of Representatives, the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee today, they stressed on the need of proper upkeep and management of the properties of the country's oldest university. Most of the lawmakers expressed their dismay, saying that the TU's properties have not been properly preserved and managed, and in some instances they are being misused. They called on the university itself to be responsible for protecting and preserving its properties. The MPs called on the university authorities to also take steps for improving the quality of education and the academic environment of the university. They pointed out the need of reform in the university's examination system as well. Lawmakers voicing these issues in the discussions include Badri Pandey, Gyanu Basnet Subedi, Biddya Bha ttarai, Devendra Paudel and Toshima Karki. Committee president Ammar Bahadur Thapa urged the TU to be clear whether the selection of students going for higher studies in Bangladesh on scholarship is according to the agreement between the two countries. He raised question over TU not conducting exams on schedule and the answer scripts going missing in some instances. TU VC Baral commits to implement academic calendar Tribhuvan University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Keshar Jung Baral has expressed his commitment to improve the university's academic calendar and accomplish its effective implementation. Speaking in the meeting of the parliamentary committee (Education, Health and Information Technology Committee) under the House of Representatives here today, VC Baral assured to endorse academic calendar and its effective implementations for timely completion of academic session and publish results. He said that the lack of effective implementation of the curriculum and the failure to publish exam results on tim e, has created negative impacts towards the university among students, parents and the general public. He opined that there should be no political interference in the university but Vice-Chancellor receives various threats at different times through political forces. He said, "This is a big university of the country, it has affiliated colleges in 77 districts, so in order to improve the university, we have to 'reform its structure." Source: National News Agency Nepal

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today held a meeting with journalist bodies and other stakeholders on the draft of proposed 'Mass Media Employees (Conditions of Service) Act'. The ministry organized the meeting as per its fresh initiative to take opinions of the stakeholders to ensure in the new law all the rights the media workers deserve. State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat presided over the meeting at the ministry's conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat here, said a press release. Speaking at the meeting, he said the proposed media employees act will ensure all types of protections that the journalists deserve under the labor law. It will be examined whether the proposed law covers cent percent the benefits that media employees are supposed to get under the labor law, Arafat added. Assuring that there will have no loophole in the proposed law over the protection of media workers' rights under the labor law, he said, if any error is noticed in this rega rd while reviewing the draft, it will be corrected. Noting that ensuring the welfare of media workers is very important to create a congenial environment for journalism and media, the state minister said his ministry has taken the initiative to review the draft of the 'Mass Media Employees (Conditions of Service) Act' to for this. Arafat expressed the hope that the media employees act would be passed in parliament with the all-out cooperation from all stakeholders. He called upon the journalist bodies and other stakeholders to give their opinions in written form on the draft of the media employees act. Senior Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ministry Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker, Additional Secretary Dr Mohammad Altaf-Ul-Alam and Joint Secretary Md Asaduzzaman, Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) Vice President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, BFUJ-Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists' former President Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Editors Guild President Mozammel Babu, Jatiya Press Club (JPC) Manag ing Committee Member Farid Hossain, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) General Secretary Akhter Hossain, Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) President Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo, Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) President Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha, Bangladesh Sangbadpatra Karmachari Federation's Secretary General Md Khairul Islam, Jatiya Sangbadpatra Parishad President Md Noor Hakim and Bangladesh Anchalik Sangbadpatra Parishad President Jahangir Hossain Manju joined the meeting, among others. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Sumana Shrestha, has said preparations are on for establishing a high-level committee for the management of land owned by Tribhuvan University (TU). In a meeting of the House of Representatives, the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee today, the Minister said this. "It seems herculean to inquire about the entire land remaining in the name of University due to time constraint. So we are working on a three-month proposal to carry out a sampling study," the Minister said. She also shared about the discussions held with student unions to implement the TU's academic calendar effectively. She asserted that TU administration, employees' and students' unions should have a common understanding and willingness to enforce the calendar effectively. Highlighting about the political interference and protests from employees union even in the transfer of one employee, she said the issues about repeated padlocking at TU should be sought through the talks with the top political leadership. The Minister called for depoliticizing the University. She also pledged to seek a diplomatic ways to address issues in the Bangladesh scholarship scheme as this is also concerned with the bilateral relations between the two countries. According to the Minister, a process is underway to appointment TU service members. Secretary at the Education Ministry, Dr Deepak Kafle, promised to do the best to address problems affecting the education sector. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu is coming to Bangladesh to take ahead the relations between Bangladesh and the USA. "Donald Lu is coming to take ahead the relations. He will talk to the government. But BNP is thinking absurd things that the US will again impose sanctions," he told a press conference at AL President Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi political office here. Quader said earlier BNP made such absurd comments repeatedly. Being boycotted by the people, BNP gets perplexed and makes absurd comments. He said Donald Lu is coming to Bangladesh to follow up the letter sent by US President Joe Biden congratulating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her reelection in the 12th national elections. The AL general secretary said BNP has suddenly become very active over the visit of Donald Lu but his visit is a usual one. Now BNP knows it well whether they have any evil plan to do something centering the visit, he said. About BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's comment that "invisible force is running Bangladesh", Quader said Mirza Fakhrul should make it clear which invisible force is running the country. BNP secretary general's press conference means crafty strategy to present fake information as true one, he said, adding BNP leaders' fundamental characteristic is to make falsehood. Noting people's government is running the country, the minister said it is BNP's character to run the government by invisible force as during the BNP tenure, the government was run from Hawa Bhaban. During that period, nothing happened without getting approval from Tarique Rahman, the kingpin of corruption, he said. The plot to launch the gruesome grenade attacks on August 21 was hatched from Hawa Bhaban, he said, adding BNP is suffering from mental trauma of invisible force. The AL general secretary said BNP doesn't want to take part in elections without getting guarantee of their victory. He said Mirza Fakhrul is now talking about public health and food security but during their government's tenure, the people had to starve. After assuming office in 1996, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not only ensured food security but also turned the country into a food surplus one. When BNP again came to power in 2001, they pushed the country towards food crisis again, he said. The minister said the AL government has made development in health sector to a great extent. People in remote areas are now getting primary health care through community clinics, he said. The United Nations recognized the Community Clinic model as Sheikh Hasina initiative, he mentioned. AL Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque and Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Information and Research Secretary Dr Selim Mahmud, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present in the press conference, among others. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha