In a significant welfare decision, the Ministry of Education and Sports has officially initiated a scheme to offer fully funded higher education scholarships to children whose parents died or went missing during the devastating Bhotekoshi flood on Bhadra 10. The ministerial-level ruling aims to guarantee that affected youths can pursue tertiary studies without financial burdens.
Phase-wise Rollout and Initial Beneficiaries
During the first phase of this initiative, the ministry has verified and selected 27 eligible students to receive immediate support. According to government officials, additional students will be identified, verified, and integrated into the scheme across subsequent stages to ensure complete coverage of all affected families.
Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel noted that this initiative expands upon the existing 'Assured Future Scholarship Scheme Operation Directives, 2083,' which previously guaranteed free school-level education for the victims' children. By extending full funding into higher education, the government ensures that these students will face no financial obstacles after finishing their secondary schooling.
Implementation Strategy Across Education Levels
To execute the program at the school level, the Department of Education and local government authorities will manage documentation. They will work directly with local administrators for public school students and coordinate with umbrella organizations for those enrolled in private institutions.
For university-level education, the Ministry of Education and Sports has instructed academic institutions to create extra seats beyond regular scholarship quotas in universities and constituent campuses through the University Grants Commission. This arrangement ensures that the children of Bhotekoshi flood victims can enroll in any academic field of their choice entirely free of cost.
