Kathmandu, April 14 – Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged all stakeholders to actively support and ensure the success of the Student Enrollment Campaign for the new academic session 2082 BS.

Extending his best wishes on the occasion of the campaign's launch today, the Prime Minister emphasized the critical role of parents, educators, and concerned authorities in enrolling every eligible child in school and keeping them there.

“To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, we must make school education inclusive, accessible, and of high quality,” PM Oli said, adding that every educational institution should strive to become a hub of knowledge and excellence. He linked quality education directly to the national vision of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.”

Highlighting poverty as a major barrier to educational progress, the Prime Minister noted that around 20 percent of Nepal's population still lives below the poverty line. “Education is the first and foremost tool to eradicate poverty. We cannot afford to leave any child behind anymore,” he stressed.

While acknowledging improvements in net enrollment at the basic level, PM Oli expressed concern over the low student retention rate, urging intensified efforts to address dropout rates. “We must work harder to ensure that children not only enroll but continue their education without interruption,” he said.

He also advocated for the modernization of the education system by integrating local knowledge, skills, and technology, thereby creating domestic employment and self-employment opportunities, which could positively impact student retention.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to passing the School Education Bill 2081 BS and increasing the education sector’s share in the national budget to support SDG targets.

“There is a pressing need to strengthen collaborative investments in education among the federal, provincial, and local governments,” he said, adding that such coordination is essential for achieving the goals of free and compulsory basic education and free secondary education.

Calling for ethics-driven, employment-oriented education, PM Oli said education must be practical, inspire social responsibility, and foster good citizenship. “It is not enough to be merely educated; we must also be courteous, responsible, and socially conscious,” he stated.

He further emphasized that no child in a country like Nepal—with so much potential—should be forced to live on the streets. The government, he said, is actively working to address child abandonment and hopes such efforts will complement the broader goals of the enrollment campaign.