Govt announces Rs 1bn scholarship scheme for flood-affected students

KATHMANDU: The government has announced the ‘Secured Future Scholarship Plan’, a scholarship scheme worth around Rs 1 billion, to support the education of students affected by the Bhotekoshi flood.

The Ministry of Education and Sports, in collaboration with organisations representing private school operators, launched the programme to provide free education to flood-affected students from early childhood development through to Grade XII.

Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel announced the scheme at a programme organised at the ministry on Monday. Under the plan, students will receive textbooks, school uniforms, educational materials, food and accommodation, along with full, partial and residential scholarships.

Speaking at the event, Minister Pokharel praised the social responsibility shown by private and institutional schools during the disaster. He said support received from within Nepal and from abroad has provided additional encouragement to the government's relief efforts.

He said scholarships would be awarded to affected students according to priorities identified through relevant data.

Shailendra Jha, chief adviser to the education minister, said the programme had been launched in partnership with private school organisations to ensure continuity of education for children affected by the floods.

He said both immediate and long-term plans had been prepared to guarantee access to education for affected children and that efforts were under way to mobilise resources from the private sector for the initiative.

The ministry will work with the Private and Boarding Schools' Organization Nepal (PABSON), National Private and Boarding Schools' Association Nepal (NPABSAN), Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools' Association Nepal (HISSAN), Association of Preschool Educators Nepal (APEN) and the Nepal Montessori Association, among others.

According to preliminary reports, 19 schools in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts have been completely or partially damaged by the floods. The reports indicate that 16 teachers and 217 students remain missing, while the education of 9,742 students has been disrupted.

The scholarship programme is expected to benefit around 1,000 students and will provide educational materials and other necessary support in addition to scholarship assistance.

(With inputs from RSS)