Minister Mahaseth expressed his support for NGS’s proposal, committing to discussions with the ministry’s secretary and emphasizing the need to educate all political leaders on the importance of geotechnical engineering.
- Prem Bastola, Raju Jhallu Prassad
Kathmandu, May 19, 2024 — The Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS) has called on the government to introduce a school curriculum aimed at increasing awareness of geohazards such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes. This proposal was presented during NGS’s 30th-anniversary celebration held at the Square Hotel in Lalitpur, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Raghubir Mahaseth, in attendance as the chief guest.
Engineer Dr. Mandip Subedi, President of NGS, underscored the importance of educating the community on disaster risks. He cited alarming statistics from the past decade, including over 3,000 incidents of floods and landslides that have resulted in more than 1,300 deaths and over 300 annual fatalities due to landslides alone. The true impact is even greater when considering the unknown numbers of missing and injured individuals.
Dr. Subedi stressed the urgent need for integrating geotechnical and disaster-related subjects into the school curriculum to ensure that knowledge of disaster preparedness reaches the grassroots level. He affirmed NGS’s commitment to support the government and the Ministry of Education in this initiative by offering a team of experts to develop the curriculum.
In alignment with its 30th-anniversary activities, NGS organized an exhibition and interactive session at Bhuwaneswar Secondary School in Dhunibesi Municipality, Dhading. Participants, including community members and officials, emphasized the necessity of implementing a disaster-focused curriculum from the primary school level. Former Chief Minister of Bagmati Province and current Member of Parliament, Rajendra Pandey, pledged his support, promising to advocate for the curriculum in parliament and relevant committees.
Dr. Gangalal Tuladhar, a disaster expert and former Education Minister, also endorsed the immediate implementation of the curriculum. He highlighted the dangers of neglecting geotechnical studies in development projects, which could exacerbate landslide risks, and urged for the curriculum to be introduced in the upcoming academic session.
Minister Mahaseth expressed his support for NGS’s proposal and readiness to discuss the demands with the ministry’s secretary. He stressed the importance of educating all political leaders about the critical role of geotechnical engineering in development projects. Inviting NGS to submit their proposals formally, he assured them of his ministry’s full cooperation and called on NGS engineers and experts to be prepared to assist in these efforts.
This initiative aims to equip the community with essential knowledge to mitigate disaster risks, ultimately fostering a safer and more resilient Nepal.
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