Budget to have programme to continue education in crisis

Kathmandu, May 21

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) Thursday said that education would  get a priority in the upcoming budget to ensure that children continue to learn and ensure their wellbeing.

It will also include programme to create a national framework to guide safe reopening of schools.

“We are looking at new modalities and approaches that ensure children continue to learn and at the same time ensure their wellbeing,” stated Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Secretary of MoEST. “We expect that education will be a priority sector in the upcoming budget given the COVID-19 pandemic and will look at means to expedite programmes and coordinate amongst all levels of government and stakeholders on a national framework that guides safe reopening of schools.”

Dr. Sharma made the comment following the Budget Review Mission (BRM) of the government’s flagship School Sector Development Programme (SSDP) which completed on Wednesday.

The BRM was conducted under the leadership of the MoEST with joint financing and non-joint financing partners including the World Bank, USAID, Asian Development Bank, Finland, Norway, European Union, JICA, Global Partnership for Education, REACH MDTF and UNICEF, and other stakeholders.

The review assessed progress and achievements of the plan’s fourth year of implementation, annual work plan and budget and allocation of resources for the final year, together with an assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the SSDP, said the World Bank.

Prior to the budget review, virtual consultation and information sharing sessions were organised with the provincial and local government leaders, Teachers Union, Association of INGOs, Consortium of Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders.

It is expected that the shocks to education from the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to increased dropout rates, learning loss and heighten the inequality with the most vulnerable students disproportionately bearing the impact of the shock, said the WB.

“The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse the progress made to date on Nepal’s education outcomes impacting children and young people, especially the poor and vulnerable,” stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Manager for Nepal. “It is critical to counter these impacts through appropriate policy responses and turn this crisis into an opportunity to build back better.”

USAID Acting Mission Director Adriana Hayes urged the MoEST to ensure that the fiscal year's education budget and work plan incorporate the activities identified in the Education Cluster Contingency plan so that local governments can receive funds and continue to provide access to education during this unprecedented crisis. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 May 2020.