Nepal steps up efforts to lure more kids to schools

The Nepali government has intensified the process of providing scholarships and fund for textbooks for this academic year to retain students and lure more out-of-school children to schools, local media reported on Monday.

At present, the net enrollment rate in the country stands at 87. 4 percent and the government aims to increase this figure to 90 percent, a leading newspaper, The Himalayan Times, reported.

According to the daily, the Ministry of Education and Sports has earmarked 1.11 billion Nepali rupees (some 15.8 million U.S. dollars) for scholarships at the primary level and 700 million rupees (10 million dollars) for providing textbooks and learning materials.

It has also allocated 1.29 billion rupees (18.4 million dollars) for next year, based on improvement by the schools, to be given as block grant at the rate of 300 rupees (4.28 dollars) per student.

Hari Lamsal, deputy director at the Department of Education, was quoted by the daily as saying that the department has already sent the amount for the textbooks from end of March and that the students could get the amount for the books at the latest by April 28.

Source: Xinhua