Special scholarships essential for quake-affected students: HISSAN Chairperson, Shrestha

April 25 Gorkha earthquake and the aftershocks it triggered across the country, brought a wave of destruction across the country. The destruction has been acute especially in 14 districts. Among other sectors, this natural calamity has seriously affected nation's education sector. But hopes for regeneration and resurrection remain high among the youths. With the SLC results in their hands, recent SLC graduates are now eager to start their higher education. But the question is - are the institutions ready to provide these hopefuls quality education in a secure environment? Republica correspondent Riwaj Rai caught up with Umesh Shrestha, chairperson of Higher Secondary School Association of Nepal and Nepali Congress Lawmaker, and discussed about the strategy that the association has been working to revive the education sector. Excerpts:

What has been the earthquake's impact on the education sector?

The loss has been tremendous. Its impact on the education sector has been grave. As per the government's assessment, this sector had to suffer around Rs 27 billion worth damages to its property. Over 6000 schools including public and private institutions, have been serious damaged. Nearly, 25000 classrooms have been rendered dysfunctional by the quake. This has deprived thousands of students across the country of their right to education.

How are you responding to these circumstances? What are the immediate priorities and plans?

Classes have resumed after the quake but the situation is far from normal. There is much work to be done. All the classes in the quake hits areas are being run under makeshift huts and shelters roofed with corrugated zinc sheets. This might help bring regularity in the classes but this is not the permanent solution. Government should focus more on bringing permanent solutions to the forefront.

Umesh-Shrestha

Umesh Shrestha (Chairperson of Higher Secondary School Association Nepal)

Offering free education to all the quake-victim students for at least two years can help such students in continuing their studies. Some of these students have lost everything, provisioning special scholarship schemes for such students could bring back their lost hope for studying.

What should be the way forward?

Now is the right time to resolve all the problems that have remained unsorted for years. Its high time that proper structural engineering and geo-physical engineering is conducted while constructing school buildings. This destruction should be taken as a lesson to build strong school buildings that can ensure safety to students. Moreover, this is also the time to solve all the previous problems like the issues of temporary and permanent teachers among other outstanding issues.