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NEPAL ECONOMIC FORUM
DOCKING NEPAL’S ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
EDUCATION EDUCATION AGRICULTURE
The education sector of Nepal faced several issues in the last quarter owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Secondary Education Examination (SEE) results were published with schools allegedly falsifying evaluations. The surge in COVID-19 cases in the country forced the National Education Board to indefinitely postpone grade 12 examinations, while the Tribhuvan University forcefully carried out physical exams despite the spike in cases. Nevertheless, the government decided to inoculate all university students appearing for examinations after a series of protests from students demanding vaccines and cancellation of physical exams. PROGRAMS Kathmandu Metropolitan City to implement “One Ward One Model School” program: Announcing its
policies and programs for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021/22, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) unveiled its plan to implement a “One Ward One Model School” Program with an aim to develop community schools as model learning centers and training hubs. Similarly, to improve the quality of schools in all 32 of its wards, KMC plans on creating an education plan by forming an Integrated Education Management Formulation Committee comprising of educational and cultural experts. Likewise, to motivate teachers at community schools, the city plans on providing NPR 1,000 (USD 8.40) per month as motivation allowance.119 New academic session begins for academic year 2021/22: The new
academic session for the current year started across the country on June 15, 2021. The director general of the Centre for Education and Human Resources, Baikuntha Aryal, directed all secondary level schools to start taking new admissions through online, telephone, and other alternative means and to complete the
admission processes by June 29, 2021. The schools have still not been given permission to start physical classes and have been directed to continue teaching through online and other alternative means such as radio and television.120 ‘Philosophy Promotion Fund’ introduced by Nepal Academy:
In order to advance the study of philosophy and research in a more systematic way, Nepal Academy instituted the Philosophy Promotion Fund. As per the member-secretary of the academy and chief of philosophy department, Professor Jagat Prasad Upadhyay, NPR 500,000 (USD 4,198) would be provided under the philosophy promotion fund for study and research related to philosophy. After being honored with the Nepal Academy Social Science, Culture and Philosophy Award, Professor Dr. Birendra Prasad Mishra handed over the NPR 200,000 (USD 1,679) that he received to the academy as seed money for the promotion fund.121 ENROLLMENT AND DROPOUTS High rate of school dropout: The Economic Survey 2020/21 unveiled
by the government showed that over two thirds of the students who enroll in schools across the country drop out by the time they reach grade 12. Although the net enrollment rate for grade 1 increased to 97.3% in FY 2020/21 from 91% in FY 2013/14, the study showed that only 29.2% of the students enrolled completed grade 12.122 The dropout rate seemed to skyrocket once students entered the higher secondary level. While 82.2% of the students stayed in school up to grade 8, and only 64.6% completed grade 10. However, the study did not include the reasons behind such high dropout rates.123 Scholarship
funds
underutilized:
In order to ensure equitable access to education, promote quality education, increase retention rates, and support students from poor communities, the government of Nepal allocates millions of rupees for scholarships every year. In FY 2020/21, NPR 850 million (USD 7.14 million) was allotted for scholarships; however, only NPR 150 million (USD 1.26 million) was disbursed, leaving over 82% of the allotted amount unspent in the government treasury. Of the students eligible for scholarships, those
