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Who runs Nepal's education now: the new ministry, the minister and the School Education Bill

A new government, a split ministry, new vice-chancellors and a fresh School Education Bill in the works. A plain guide to who decides what in Nepal's education in 2026, and what's still unresolved.

Mero Vidyalaya Team · · 6 min read

The Federal Parliament building (Sansad Bhawan) in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, photographed in June 2025
Photo: Bijay Chaurasia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nepal's education system has had more changes of leadership and rules in the past year than in the decade before. If you've lost track of who is in charge and what has changed, this is a plain guide. It's facts only, with every figure dated and sourced. Facts are as of 24 September 2026.

How we got here

  • 12 September 2025: after the Gen Z movement, the House of Representatives was dissolved. The School Education Bill (विद्यालय शिक्षा विधेयक), which parliament had been debating since 2023, lapsed with it.
  • September 2025: in the interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Mahabir Pun became Minister for Education, Science and Technology. He is the founder of the National Innovation Centre and a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner.
  • 5 March 2026: general elections were held.
  • 27 March 2026: Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was sworn in as Prime Minister. Sasmit Pokharel (RSP, elected from Kathmandu-5) was named education minister.

Who's who in education

RolePerson
Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the universitiesBalendra Shah
Minister for Education and Sports, government spokesperson, and Pro-Chancellor of the universitiesSasmit Pokharel
Minister for Science, Technology and InnovationMahabir Pun (since 9 June 2026)
Finance MinisterSwarnim Wagle
Chief adviser to the education minister; leads the School Education Bill task forceShailendra Jha
Tribhuvan University Vice-ChancellorProf Dr Bhola Thapa (since 3 July 2026)
Pokhara University Vice-ChancellorDevendra Adhikari (since 3 July 2026)
Nepal Teachers' Federation presidentLaxmi Kishore Subedi

The ministry was split in two

On 13 May 2026 the Cabinet cut the number of federal ministries to 18 and dissolved the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. It was replaced by:

  • The Ministry of Education and Sports, led by Sasmit Pokharel, which now holds the education portfolio.
  • The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, led by Mahabir Pun since 9 June.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said the restructuring aimed to "improve transparency, administrative efficiency, and reduce the state's financial burden". What this means for you: look for education notices from the Ministry of Education and Sports. Older forms and articles may still say "MoEST".

Universities: new leaders, a scholarship rule, and a court case

  • Officials removed. On 2 May 2026 President Ramchandra Paudel issued an ordinance ending appointments made before 26 March. More than 1,200 officials were removed. They included the vice-chancellors of Tribhuvan, Kathmandu and Pokhara universities, officials at several other universities, and the leadership of the University Grants Commission.
  • New vice-chancellors. On 3 July 2026, Prime Minister Shah appointed vice-chancellors for seven universities through what the government described as an open competition. They include Bhola Thapa at Tribhuvan University and Devendra Adhikari at Pokhara University. Bibek Baral was also appointed at Kathmandu University. Tribhuvan University's new Rector (Anjana Singh) and Registrar (Rabindra Shiwakoti) were appointed on 1 September.
  • 10% free scholarships. The Prime Minister directed seven universities and their campuses to give free scholarships to 10% of students: meritorious, economically disadvantaged and targeted-group students. The Kathmandu Post noted that the rule already exists in university Acts but hasn't been fully enforced.
  • Student unions. The government moved to remove party-affiliated student unions from campuses. Student organisations called it "undemocratic". On 11 May 2026 the Supreme Court issued an interim order halting the move, and as of July no final verdict had been given. Student unions continue to operate for now.

A new School Education Bill is being drafted

The old bill lapsed with the parliament in 2025. It had attracted 1,738 amendment proposals from 152 lawmakers. Now a seven-member task force led by Shailendra Jha is drafting a new one.

"The previous bill will serve as a basis for the new one. However, there have been changes in the context, and we need to address the concerns raised," Jha told Republica in September. The ministry aims to table it before parliament's winter session.

The biggest open questions:

  • Who runs schools: how powers will be split between the federal, provincial and local governments.
  • Private schools: the old draft proposed gradually turning them into non-profit trusts. Private school leaders oppose this.
  • Teachers' pay and job security: the Nepal Teachers' Federation has warned of nationwide protests if the law doesn't guarantee minimum pay for early-childhood, relief and temporary teachers. In August the government announced a Rs5,000 monthly raise for early-childhood teachers and school staff, which unions called "a temporary fix".

Rules that already changed in July

While the bill is being written, the Cabinet amended the Education Regulations on 3 July 2026:

  • School management committees: anyone who has been a political party member in the past five years can no longer serve. Neither can ward officials, teachers or school staff.
  • Headteachers are now appointed by local governments.
  • Teacher transfers are allowed only after at least three years at a school, and are decided on a 65-point scale.
  • Private school deposits rose to Rs1 million for secondary schools and Rs500,000 for basic schools.

Critics, including education expert Abhishek Ghimire, argued that such changes should come through a new Act rather than regulations. Nepal's Education Act dates from 1971.

Also in the news

  • Faster exam results. On the minister's orders, SEE results came out in 29 days and Class 12 results in about 40. Some students questioned the accuracy. Read our results guide.
  • Fees. A proposed 3% fee on private school fees was dropped by the Prime Minister in July. What schools may charge.
  • A new curriculum. A task force led by Kathmandu University professor Balchandra Luitel is reviewing the curriculum for Grades 1–12, with a focus on AI and ICT, indigenous knowledge and disaster risk reduction.
  • Study abroad. New rules now govern education consultancies. What changed.

What's still unresolved

  • The text of the new School Education Bill, and when it will be tabled.
  • The Supreme Court's final ruling on student unions.
  • The findings of the committee reviewing Class 12 marking.
  • The formal Cabinet decision withdrawing the 3% equity fee.

We'll update this page as these are settled.

Facts as of 24 September 2026. Titles and dates are as reported by the outlets below.

Sources

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