Lumbini Province has been officially declared a literate province, following the fulfillment of national literacy standards. The declaration was made during a special ceremony held in the provincial capital on Sunday.
Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya formally announced Lumbini as a literate province at the event.
Under Schedule 8 of the Constitution and the Local Government Operation Act, 2017, responsibility for secondary education, non-formal education, and literacy programs lies with local governments. As per Government of Nepal provisions aligned with UNESCO standards, a province can be declared literate when at least 95 percent of the population aged between 15 and 60 is literate. Literacy is defined not only as the ability to read and write, but also basic numeracy skills and practical competencies such as daily transactions, banking, mobile phone use, and understanding time and dates.
Lumbini Province met these criteria, leading to the declaration. All 12 districts of the province have already been declared literate. Districts including Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Dang, Rupandehi, Banke, and Kapilvastu have recorded literacy rates exceeding 96 percent.
The province has also seen notable improvement in academic outcomes. The Secondary Education Examination (SEE) pass rate increased from 38.65 percent in the academic year 2024 to 62.06 percent in 2025.
Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Acharya said education has been globally prioritized as a key driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that Lumbini Province has made significant progress despite its social and cultural diversity. He added that campaigns have been launched to improve education and that necessary laws are being formulated to facilitate educational reforms.
Former Chief Minister and leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party, Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, said the province has performed well in the education sector but stressed that sustainability is more important than declarations. Recalling the ‘Sakshar Laltein’ (Literacy Lantern) campaign he initiated during his time as a social activist, Chaudhary said Lumbini’s efforts should serve as a model for other provinces.
Social Development Minister Janmajay Timilsina highlighted that education, health, and per capita income are the main indicators of human development globally. Among them, he said, education plays the most crucial role and has a positive impact on other indicators as well. He added that the provincial government will continue to prioritize lifelong learning even after the literacy declaration.
According to Rishiraj Sharma, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Social Development, Lumbini Province has achieved notable progress through literacy campaigns, expansion of educational infrastructure, and improvement in learning outcomes. He said the next priority will be to expand quality, inclusive, technical, and employment-oriented education.
A wide range of institutions have been directly or indirectly involved in literacy, lifelong learning, non-formal, and alternative education programs in the province. These include the Ministry of Social Development, the Education and Social Development Directorate, education training centers, Lumbini Technological University, 12 Education Development and Coordination Units, six Social Development Division Offices, 109 local governments, a provincial-level Madrasa Education Coordination Committee, 4,439 community schools, 5,722 community-based early childhood development centers, and 329 community information centers.
Individuals and institutions contributing to the education sector were also honored at the event.
Education status
According to 2024 data, Nepal’s Human Development Index (HDI) stands at 0.622, while Lumbini Province ranks fourth nationally with an HDI of 0.608. Under the federal government’s ‘Literate Nepal’ campaign, the goal is to ensure minimum literacy for all citizens aged 15 and above. The Cabinet-approved ‘Literate Nepal Year 2020’ concept emphasizes building a foundation for lifelong learning.
The Second Periodic Plan targets increasing the literacy rate for the population aged five and above from 78.08 percent to 98 percent. Plans include linking literacy with skills and income generation, developing alternative programs for out-of-school children, and strengthening community information centers, early childhood development centers, and educational institutions.
Education is constitutionally guaranteed as a fundamental right. Article 31 of the Constitution ensures free and compulsory basic education and free secondary education for all citizens. It also provides for inclusive education for persons with disabilities, economically disadvantaged groups, and individuals with special needs, along with the right to receive education in one’s mother tongue.
