Education minister says all displaced children have been enrolled in schools

KATHMANDU: Minister for Education and government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel has pledged that children affected by the removal of squatter settlements in the Kathmandu Valley will not be deprived of education.

Responding to lawmakers’ questions in the National Assembly on Friday, Minister Pokharel said the government has taken measures to ensure that the education of displaced children continues uninterrupted by transferring them to nearby schools.

According to the minister, 116 students from Shree Buddhajyoti Bal Udyan Basic School in Balaju have been transferred to Tarun Secondary School, while 154 students from Shree Balkalyan Secondary School have been enrolled at Nepal Yuwak Secondary School in Paknajol.

Similarly, 10 children staying at the Radhaswami Satsang Centre in Kirtipur have been provided residential education on full scholarships with the support of PABSON Kathmandu.

Pokharel also informed the National Assembly that 59 children currently residing at the Kharipati, Bode and Ichangu holding centres have been enrolled in schools of their choice.

The government has arranged transportation to and from school for the children and provided snacks, tiffin boxes, school uniforms, bags, stationery, water bottles, hygiene kits and sports equipment, she said.

The minister added that she had inspected the Kharipati and Bode holding centres on July 13 and directed officials to make additional arrangements to address the needs of the affected children.

Responding to a separate query, Pokharel said the government had scrapped the previous nomination system in universities and educational institutions to strengthen good governance and merit-based appointments.

She said vice-chancellors have already been appointed in all nine universities, while the chairperson of the Tribhuvan University Service Commission and other senior officials have also been appointed. The process of filling the remaining vacant positions is underway.

To improve the academic environment in higher education, the government has instructed all universities to prepare and effectively implement annual academic calendars, the minister said.

National Assembly members Madankumari Shah (Garima) and Bhuvan Bahadur Sunar had raised the questions related to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.