Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmit Pokharel, announced in the House of Representatives that the government has prepared both immediate and long-term strategies to maintain continuous education in flood-affected regions. Before damaged educational facilities are rebuilt, teaching activities will continue through temporary learning centers, community initiatives, and residential setups wherever required.
Relief Programs and Student Support
Addressing lawmakers' queries, Minister Pokharel revealed that the Ministry has launched the 'Assured Future Scholarship Scheme' in collaboration with the private sector for children who lost their parents in the floods. Additionally, children residing in government holding centers are being provided with healthcare, psychosocial counseling, and ongoing educational activities. School rebuilding efforts will proceed according to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report.
Reforms in Technical and School Education
In response to challenges in technical education, the Minister highlighted that some reserved seats remain unfilled due to limited interest from parents and students. In response, policy and legal reformative steps have been initiated, including amending the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) law. Furthermore, nationwide policy discussions across all seven provinces have been completed to incorporate stakeholder feedback into the drafting of the new Education Bill.
School Mapping and Administrative Roles
The government plans to map the overall status of schools in Nepal within the current fiscal year to direct future infrastructure projects and teacher quota adjustments. Minister Pokharel clarified that federal authorities handle permanent teacher recruitment, while local governments hold authority over contract hires, transfers, and quota adjustments.
Regarding primary education, a continuous assessment system is currently enforced up to Grade 5, alongside plans for school mergers. In a positive step for educators, the government recently increased the monthly remuneration of Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers, school support staff, and school assistants by Rs 5,000, promising further adjustments as economic capacity allows.
