Nepal establishes fund to support flood-affected students
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The Nepal government announced the creation of a ‘Scholarship Bank’ to provide free education through Grade 12 to children orphaned or displaced by recent flash floods.
Following devastating floods last month, the Ministry of Education will collect contributions from government agencies, private schools, charities, and individuals into a central fund. The ministry will then evaluate each child’s needs and distribute support ranging from residential care and full scholarships to educational materials.
Private schools in Nepal have already pledged Rs1 billion (approximately $6.62 million) to support 1,000 affected students, linking their contribution to the government’s scholarship bank. Government officials will prioritize children who have lost parents or guardians, tailoring assistance to their specific circumstances. Initial assessments identified 9,400 students in the districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading as affected by the disaster, with 488 students unaccounted for and five confirmed dead.
The ministry also reported widespread damage to schools, with 268 of 527 classrooms destroyed and 24 teachers still missing. The Scholarship Bank is intended to be a long-term resource, extending beyond this disaster to support children affected by future floods, landslides, accidents, or the death of parents working abroad.
