A recent report released by the Education Quality Testing Centre (EQTC) in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, has highlighted a concerning decline in the learning status of students across Nepal. The "Performance Evaluation and Student Learning Achievement Assessment Report 2024/25" indicates that the overall learning achievement of students is unsatisfactory.
Pramila Bakhati, Director of the EQTC, confirmed that the assessment focused on the learning achievement of Grade 10 students across four core subjects: Nepali, Mathematics, English, and Science. The findings reveal that students' learning achievement is not only very weak in these specific subjects but also across all subjects. Bakhati further emphasized that the learning quality of students across the country is too weak.
The report highlights several disparities in learning outcomes: girls' performance is notably weaker than that of boys; students from rural areas demonstrate weaker learning quality compared to their urban counterparts; and students whose mother tongue is not Nepali show weaker learning outcomes than those whose mother tongue is Nepali.
Furthermore, the report identifies additional factors influencing student achievement. Students with weaker economic and educational backgrounds are found to be weaker in their learning. Conversely, students who consistently complete their homework and actively participate in classwork demonstrate improved learning achievement.
The results of a national test conducted in 2023 by the centre on the learning achievement of Grade 10 students were formally presented at a program held at the Education Development Directorate in Dhankuta.
Krishna Prasad Pokhrel, Director of the Education Development Directorate, highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that students are failing to meet the expected knowledge and skill levels for their grade. In response to these findings, Pokhrel urged local, provincial, and federal governments to collaborate on developing targeted programs. He stressed that these initiatives should focus on empowering subject teachers and on a broader effort to enhance the overall educational quality across the nation.
