Budget gives big boost to community schools

KATHMANDU, July 27: Worried about the widespread criticism of teachers over the declining pass percentage and drop in student enrollment at community schools, the government has allocated Rs 760 million to train 1,53,314 teachers across the country in this fiscal year.



In addition, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has allocated Rs 1.87 billion to ensure scholarships for 60,000 secondary level students who are living under poverty line. Similarly, the girl students between grade 1 and 8, disabled, students of dalit community and those belonging to indigenous groups that are on the verge of extinction would also receive the scholarship. [break]



The government has decided to reward schools in each district that come up with best results.

The MoF has also allocated Rs 0.5 million for two public schools in every district as an attempt to encourage the government school teachers to strive for better results.



After a failed attempt of the Department of Education to ensure 25 child-friendly Minimum Enabling Condition Indicators (MEC) under its School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP), the office last year had introduced five Prioritized Minimum Education Condition (PMEC) to be implemented in all community schools. The prioritized minimum indicators condition intended to make sure that all schools are equipped with basic facilities that cater to the diverse needs of students, including physical and learning environments, according to the DoE Director Tek Narayan Pandey.



The MoF has also allotted Rs 1.85 billion to provide textbooks for the community school students of Karnali zone up to grade 12.

While the DoE targets to build as many as 5,812 new schools building this year, 2000 schools would get separate girls´ toilet. Similarly, 1053 schools would receive library and some 846 schools would be retrofitted.



As the PMEC report last year revealed that only 2000 schools have computers, the MoF has also allocated Rs 1 billion to ensure computer technology in additional 7140 community schools this year. However, still 19860 schools will lack computer facility.



The SSRP, which has been implemented since 2009, the government was to create a proper environment in terms of infrastructural and social aspects in all the community schools across the country by 2015. However, the DoE minimized the reform criteria following slow progress made in the sector.

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