Government Allocates NPR 6.54 Billion for Community School Infrastructure

The government has introduced a physical infrastructure development program for large community schools across Nepal to attract more students and parents to public education.

The Department of Education, under the Ministry of Education and Sports, has prioritized 109 community schools with more than 2,000 students and strong academic results for the implementation of the program.

Budget Allocation and Infrastructure Construction

For the current fiscal year 2083/84, the government has allocated NPR 6.54 billion to strengthen infrastructure at the selected community schools.

According to Arun Prasad Neupane, Director General of the Department of Education, NPR 5.34 billion has already been released for 89 schools selected in the first phase, and the building construction process has begun.

Under the program, each selected school will receive an investment of approximately NPR 60 million for the construction of a modern, three-storey building with 12 rooms.

The buildings will include modern classrooms, well-equipped laboratories, and resource-rich libraries.

The Ministry believes these facilities will help create a safer, better-organized, and more effective learning environment for students.

Province-Wise Distribution of 89 Selected Community Schools

The Ministry has stated that Madhesh Province has been given the highest priority in infrastructure development, considering its relatively low literacy rate, educational indicators, and the need to improve the quality of government schools.

The 89 schools selected in the first phase are distributed across the seven provinces as follows:

• Madhesh Province: 33 schools, representing more than 37 percent of the total selected schools.

• Lumbini Province: 21 schools, including eight in Rupandehi and six in Dang.

• Koshi Province: 18 schools, including six each in Jhapa and Morang.

• Sudurpashchim Province: Six schools, including three in Kailali and one each in Kanchanpur, Darchula, and Bajura.

• Gandaki Province: Six schools, including three in Kaski, two in Nawalparasi East, and one in Tanahun.

• Karnali Province: Three schools, including two in Surkhet and one in Jumla.

• Bagmati Province: Two schools.

Overall Education Budget and Community School Statistics

The government has allocated a total of NPR 218.30 billion for the education sector in the current fiscal year 2083/84.

Of this amount, NPR 1 billion has been allocated specifically for mapping the infrastructure needs of community schools.

According to the Ministry of Education's latest annual statistics, Nepal has 27,010 community schools in operation.

Nearly half of these schools have fewer than 100 students.

The reported figures indicate that 9,707 schools have between 100 and 500 students, while 9,704 schools have fewer than 500 students.

According to the Department of Education, Kalika Manavgyan Secondary School in Butwal has the highest student enrollment in Nepal, with more than 8,000 students.

Government Prioritizes Infrastructure to Improve Community School Enrollment

Shriprasad Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Sports, stated that the government has prioritized infrastructure development to increase the attractiveness of community schools among students and teachers.

Similarly, Heramba Raj Kandel, Principal of Viswa Niketan Secondary School in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, which is regarded as one of the city's leading schools, observed that student interest in community schools has been increasing in recent years.

He expressed confidence that the government's infrastructure development program would further encourage student enrollment in community schools.