Principals’ Meet 2026

Report:

The Principals’ Meet 2026, organized by Xavier Academy, commenced at 4:00 PM at the academy’s Seminar Hall. The gathering brought together 47 participants from 32 schools, creating a vibrant forum for dialogue on the evolving landscape of education.

The program began with welcome remarks by the Principal, Ms. Rashmi Sharma Mainali, who emphasized the importance of educational leaders keeping pace with the dynamism of modern education and adapting to rapidly changing academic and societal expectations.

Hon. Umesh Shrestha, Vice Chair, highlighted the growing importance of skill-based education in Nepal’s academic framework. He also congratulated the Rastriya Swatantra Party for its clean sweep in the 2026 Nepal Elections, and used the platform to urge policymakers to work towards establishing Nepal as a regional education hub.

The Chairperson of Xavier Academy, Prof. Dr. Sriram Bhagut Mathe, delivered a compelling presentation on Nepal’s academic landscape, outlining the challenges and opportunities facing the country’s education sector. He stressed the need to create systems that enable Nepal to retain its youth and channel their potential towards building a prosperous nation.

Former Chairperson Prof. Dr. Pramod Bdr. Shrestha reflected on his academic journey and encouraged school leaders to place strong emphasis on the mental and physical well-being of students, noting that holistic development is essential for meaningful education.

The highlight of the event was a moderated panel discussion on the theme “Shared Vision in Education.” The discussion was moderated by the Principal, Ms. Mainali, and featured distinguished panelists:

• Mr. Chandrayan Shrestha, Principal of Triyog High School, emphasized the growing relevance of skills-based learning and urged educators to understand the psyche of today’s youth while guiding them toward responsible citizenship.

• Mr. Dilip Rana, Director–Principal of NIST School, shared how sustainability-driven projects have empowered students in his school, who are enthusiastically embracing responsibilities in shaping a better future.

• Mr. Kumar Thapa, Principal of Brihaspati Vidya Sadan, spoke on the importance of freedom in education, asserting that freedom of thought, action, and creativity nurtures critical thinking and innovation.

• Ms. Sushma Lama, Director–Principal of Xavier Academy Best Elementary School, highlighted the crucial role of parents in shaping children’s futures and emphasized discipline as a core value within academic institutions.

During the discussion, participating principals collectively agreed on the urgent need to reform the academic system and syllabus to align with the demands of evolving times and the aspirations of the younger generation.

The formal session concluded with a vote of thanks by Vice Principal, Mr. Pakash Shrestha, who expressed gratitude to all the principals for their participation despite demanding schedules and encouraged continued collaboration in making education more relevant and impactful.

The evening continued with a Fellowship Dinner at Radisson Hotel Kathmandu, where participants engaged in informal discussions on student welfare, academic innovation, and collective leadership in education. The gathering concluded with a shared commitment among educators to meet more often, strengthen camaraderie, and work together toward meaningful educational progress.