Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ensures Education for Displaced Children

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has initiated a special effort to ensure the education of children from families displaced during the removal of unauthorized structures along riverbanks and who are currently taking shelter at the 'Holding Center' in Kirtipur. As per a tripartite agreement between the Metropolitan City, umbrella organizations of private schools (PABSON and NPABSON), and parents, the displaced children will receive full residential scholarships up to the Secondary Education Examination (SEE).

According to Keshav Gyawali, Education Officer of the Metropolitan City, this program has been launched to bring the children of displaced families into the mainstream of education. As per the agreement, the concerned schools will bear all expenses for the education, accommodation, and hostel of the selected children. Out of the approximately 300 families currently in the holding center, 41 children, out of the first 50 screened, have been admitted to Janajagriti Secondary School in Balkhu. Among the remaining, 20 children above 10 years of age have agreed to be educated in private schools with residential facilities, 13 of whom were handed over to the respective schools on Friday. Gita Lama from Sarlahi, who has been facing natural disasters for the past three decades, has been displaced once again. She has been struggling, being rendered homeless repeatedly since the devastating flood of 2050 BS. The 50-year-old Lama is in crisis after the government demolished the houses of people living on riverbanks and in unmanaged settlements. She is currently taking shelter at the holding center managed by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. She expressed satisfaction that the Metropolitan City has made proper arrangements for food, shelter, and sanitation for the displaced families. Although she is in a difficult situation, a new ray of hope has appeared in her life as her 12-year-old grandson has received the opportunity to study in a good school. Stating that her grandson's future is now in the hands of the school and the concerned bodies, she urged them to provide good education and values to her grandson. This initiative for the education of a child amidst suffering has sent a positive message to the displaced families.

On the other hand, parents have expressed concern that the children temporarily sheltered due to the government's campaign to demolish unauthorized structures are facing discrimination in schools. Parent Smriti Rai claimed at a recent program that the children sent to Janajagriti Secondary School in Balkhu have been treated discriminatorily. According to her, due to the discrimination in school, the children are reluctant to go to school, which poses a risk of long-term impact on their mental state. Rai urged the principals and teachers of the new schools and hostels where the children will be sent to be sensitive to this issue. She emphasized the need to not discriminate against the children in the new environment and to teach the other students there to behave respectfully towards the children affected by the disaster. She also demanded that the concerned bodies provide clear information to the parents about which schools the children will be sent to in the future. It appears that stakeholders need to take initiative to ensure an inclusive and non-discriminatory environment, keeping in mind the education and psychosocial health of the displaced children.

Educational support and skill-based training are being provided to children and adolescents who are deprived of education and opportunities due to weak economic conditions. Such assistance is being provided to family members who face difficulties in attending school and learning skills due to poverty and large family size. In this regard, members of local Nirjala Paswan's family have also received this facility. According to Paswan, her children's proper education was hindered due to her family's low economic status and large family size. Now, there is happiness in the family as arrangements have been made to keep her brothers in a hostel for their studies. In the past, two-month computer classes and various skill-based training programs have also been conducted targeting children and youth who were previously staying at home. Nirjala Paswan, who has passed SLC and is waiting for further opportunities, informed that she is currently taking computer training. Paswan expressed the hope that her brothers' futures would be bright if they were ensured education at least up to class 12, given her family's weak economic condition. She stated that proper management of skills and education would be a great relief for the impoverished class like them. It is reported that the concerned bodies are preparing to provide practical skills along with residential education to the children.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has initiated a special effort to ensure the education of the children of unmanaged settlers residing at the Radhaswami Holding Center in Kirtipur, who have been displaced from riverbanks and risk-prone areas. As per a tripartite agreement between the Metropolitan City, concerned schools, and parents, the displaced children will receive full residential scholarships up to the Secondary Education Examination (SEE). According to Keshav Gyawali, Education Officer of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, this program has been advanced in coordination with PABSON and NPABSON, umbrella organizations of private schools, to bring the children of displaced families into the mainstream of education. As per the agreement, schools will bear all expenses for the children's education, accommodation, and hostel. Out of the approximately 300 families in the holding center, 41 children, out of the first 50 screened, have already been admitted to Janajagriti Secondary School in Balkhu. Among the remaining, an agreement has been made to educate 20 children above 10 years of age in private schools with residential facilities. Of the 20 children covered by the agreement, 13 have been handed over to the respective schools on Monday, and arrangements will be made for the remaining 7 soon, the Metropolitan City has stated. Although there were some practical difficulties in placing children under 10 years of age in hostels initially, some educational institutions have expressed their willingness to educate them as well. The Metropolitan City is preparing to provide full scholarships and hostel facilities up to SEE even for children under 10, if their parents agree. In this campaign, Kathmandu Metropolitan City will play the role of providing educational materials, regular monitoring, and coordination between parents and schools. Representatives of PABSON and NPABSON have committed to issuing a circular to manage displaced children in their member schools across the country under the 10 percent scholarship quota stipulated by law. The Metropolitan City is currently taking full responsibility for the food and management of the displaced people at the Radhaswami Ashram in Kirtipur. The Metropolitan City has informed that it will facilitate access to free education in government schools and scholarships in private schools for displaced children in other locations as well.