Visiting UNESCO Director General Irina Gueorguieva Bokova observed community learning center run by locals with the help of UNESCO in Pharping, Kathmandu on Monday.

Director General Bokova received a huge welcome from the locals with garland and Panche Baja (Traditional Nepali Instruments), who have become literate from the community learning center.

During her visit, she also inaugurated lifelong learning resource center of community learning center. Speaking at the inauguration programme, Director General Bokova said the learning center not only helps women to get literate but also encourages them to understand their rights and dignity.

Director General Bokova arrived here in Kathmandu on Sunday for a three-day long Nepal visit. Today, she called on President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, paid courtesy call to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and met Minister for Education Girirajmani Pokhrel. The talks were focused on reconstruction works of heritage sites destroyed by last year’s April earthquake. Other issues included education, among other areas, where UNESCO could help. 

Director General Bokova also visited Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu that was destroyed by the earthquake last year. The site is enlisted as UNESCO world heritage sites. During the visit Bokova curiously inquired with local people and the representatives of Archaeology Department on the reconstruction works being carried out in the area. UNESCO is providing support for reconstructing Basantapur Durbar Square.

Similarly, Director General Bakova also lunched a joint programme of UNESCO, UNFPA and UN Women about girl education named ‘Empowering Adolescent Girls and Young Women through the Provision of Comprehensive Sexuality Education and a safe Learning Environment in Nepal’.

Addressing the programme organised at Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu, Bokova said, "Empowering a girl is to empower a family and a community." She congratulated Nepal government for enrolling maximum number of girl children at schools.

Speaking in the programme, Minister for Education Girirajmani Pokhrel said since Nepal has been declared federal republic, every educational institutions need to be reorganized and support from international agencies is crucial at this moment. He said that Nepal government’s main concerns at this time are to reorganize educational institution, fulfill educational mandate, continue to achieve targeted educational goals and development of the educational infrastructures. Representatives of education ministry, parliamentary education committee and other agencies attended the programme.

Director General Bokova is schedule to visit Lumbini—the birthplace of Lord Buddha—tomorrow morning. She will conclude her Nepal visit and depart to France tomorrow evening.