16th periodic plan targets for 100 pc literacy rate in country

KATHMANDU: The 16th five-year periodic plan, which is in the drafting stage now, has set a goal to ensure 100% literacy rate in the country.

The government has set a target to increase the literacy rate to 100% in the age group of five years and above within the next five years.

The concept has been put forth in a discussion held on Monday and Tuesday on the draft of the 16th periodic plan.

According to the National Planning Commission, currently, the literacy rate in the age of five and above is only 76.2%.

The target is being set to increase literacy to 100% by the end of the 16th plan or the fiscal year of 2027/28.

Likewise, the plan has put forward the target to ensure access to the internet in all schools to improve teaching and learning. Though there is access to the internet for teaching and learning in urban schools, it has not been in the reach of all schools across the country.

The internet access rate now is 35.9% and it will be increased to 100% in five years.

However, the targets set in the draft have yet to be finalised, said NPC member Ramesh Chandra Paudel.

The NPC has also pitched an idea to increase the education sector budget to 17%.