Kathmandu, December 2. President Bidya Devi Bhandari has urged the stakeholders to include Buddha’s messages and Buddhist philosophy in the curriculums from school to university levels.

Inaugurating the 17th anniversary of Lumbini Buddhist University and central library building in Lumbini on Thursday, the President said that Buddhist philosophy has spread across the globe and the world’s renowned universities have included Buddhist philosophy in their academic curriculum. She said that the multidimensionality of the university would be further promoted if the Buddha’s lessons and education were linked to the present context for their practical implementation in education system, curriculum and teaching.

“This could help handover the legacy of great Buddhist civilization to the future generation. University’s autonomy and academic freedom is a precondition to academic development. The (university) curriculum should be research-oriented to produce skilled human resources by maintaining purely academic environment in the university,” the President opined.

The President was of the view that educational quality should be elevated through enhanced investment in the higher education to minimise the rising trend of student migration, adding that a large number of Nepali students were going abroad for higher education.

Likewise, President Bhandari stressed the need for excavation of archeological and cultural heritages related to Buddha and Buddhist education spread across the country and Kapilbastu, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi in particular as well as their protection and promotion.

Saying that many things with the importance of archeological and cultural values are still being discovered in Lumbini area, President Bhandari called for the stakeholder agencies’ additional attention for further excavation.

Province Chief of Lumbini Province Amik Sherchan said that the lessons of Buddha should be translated into the practice.

Also speaking at the event, Lumbini Buddhist University’s Pro-Chancellor and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Poudel asked the university to focus its attention for the research work on Buddhist education while adding that this university should be established as a research centre on Buddhist philosophy. 

On the occasion, CPN (UML) vice-chairman Bishnu Poudel, University Grants Commission Chairman Bhim Subedi, Lumbini Buddhist University’s Vice Chancellor Hridayaratna Bajracharya and others expressed their opinions on academic development of the university with support from all.