To continue the education of children affected by the Bhotekoshi flood, the government has announced an Assured Future Scholarship Scheme worth around Rs 1 billion in collaboration with private sector educational institutions.
In a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Education and Sports on Sunday, Minister of Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel announced the relief scholarship scheme targeting flood-affected students from early childhood development to class 12.
According to the plan, flood-affected students will be provided with full, partial and residential scholarships based on their needs and conditions.
In addition to this, the ministry said that school fees will be waived, free textbooks, school uniforms, educational materials, housing and food will be provided.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Education Pokharel highly praised the social responsibility shown by private and institutional schools in times of crisis.
"Seeing the helping hands extended, it is felt that the state is not alone in the disaster," he said, "This cooperation has given the message that the state should stand strong in such a difficult situation."
He said that scholarships will be distributed based on the official statistics of the affected students. Principal advisor to the Education Minister, Shailendra Jha, said that the current and long-term plans have been put forward together to secure the educational future of the children by transforming the national grief into strength.
Similarly, the joint secretary of the ministry Shri Prasad Bhattarai informed that all the necessary resources for the education of the affected children will be mobilized from the private sector.
For the scholarship program, Private and Residential School Organization Nepal (PABSON), National Private and Residential School Organization Nepal (NPABSON), Higher Education and Secondary School Association (HISAN), Association of Pre-School Education Nepal (APIN) and Monteshwari Association Nepal have joined hands with the Ministry.
Hisan President Yuvraj Sharma said that a scholarship package worth 1 billion rupees has been prepared to cover about 1,000 flood-affected students.
He mentioned that this campaign will be made long-term with the support of national and international organizations.
Similarly, Pabson President Krishna Prasad Adhikari informed that this campaign was launched under the corporate social responsibility of five umbrella organizations.
Published: 22 Bhadra 2083 21:57 Monday
