The Foundation for the Future (FFTF) launched a crucial national dialogue on preparing Nepal's youth for the age of Artificial Intelligence with its inaugural panel, "AI Awareness in Nepal: Are Students Ready? The event brought together key voices from education, technology, and policy to address the pivotal challenges and opportunities facing Nepal’s educational sector.
The dialogue, moderated by Rojina Duwadi, featured a diverse panel including tech leaders Sagun Dhungana (Digital and Beyond) and Bhaskar Bhatta (Dignep Group), alongside prominent educators Neha KC (SwostiShree Gurukul IB Continuum School) and Tanka Prasad Neupane (Rastriya Secondary School).
The digital divide: beyond the device
The panelists quickly moved past the assumption that device ownership equals AI literacy. Expressing his views at the virtual panel discussion, Sagun Dhungana stated, “Owning a device doesn’t mean understanding AI.” He noted that students often use AI merely for quick outputs rather than for deeper, analytical learning.
Headmaster Tanka Prasad Neupane, representing the public sector, highlighted the deep-rooted digital divide, citing limited infrastructure, insufficient ICT-trained teachers, and unreliable power supply as ongoing barriers to equal access. Bhaskar Bhatta added a critical warning about digital safety, urging the need to "protect students from unintentionally sharing sensitive data."
Blueprint for an AI-informed curriculum
The conversation pivoted toward integrating AI responsibly into the curriculum. Panelists advocated for viewing AI not as a shortcut, but as a "creative companion" that can enhance imaginative thinking and research skills. They called for a unified national agenda, informed by international examples, to develop a context-sensitive and forward-looking AI curriculum.
Similarly, Neha KC emphasized guiding student enthusiasm with ethical frameworks, stating, "Their curiosity is their superpower but it must be guided toward ethics, analysis, and responsibility.” Participants also called ror the development of local mini-language models to ensure that the Nepali language is included within global AI systems.
Closing the session, FFTF Executive Director Sophie Sangat said the event is just the beginning of a sustained effort. The AI Literacy Panel Series will continue with future episodes focusing on AI in governance, entrepreneurship, and teacher development. "AI literacy must become ethical, inclusive, and accessible for every learner, and that will take all of us working together," said Sophie.
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