Kathmandu. It has been found that 777 students have been displaced from their original schools due to Bhotekoshi floods. According to the information collected by the Ministry of Education and Sports through the education development and coordination unit of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts, students have been displaced due to flood damage to their houses or schools.
According to the Ministry of Education, steps have been taken for the continuity and management of the education of the displaced students. According to the ministry, arrangements have been made for them to be enrolled in nearby schools and teaching through temporary learning centers. According to the ministry, 56 temporary learning centers have been constructed for them.
The National Planning Commission has prepared a report with damage assessment for the revival and recovery of the education system in flood-affected areas. In the report, it is stated that there is a loss equal to 4 billion 61 million 10 million. A 5-year strategy has been prepared for recovery. It is estimated that more than 3 billion budget will be needed.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Education Shri Prasad Bhattarai said that the details of the Bhotekoshi flood damage are being collected and a reconstruction plan is being prepared. According to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report prepared by the Ministry and the Planning Commission, partner agencies have severely damaged the education system of the affected areas due to the destruction of the physical infrastructure of the educational institutions and disruption of teaching. It is mentioned that 28 out of 57 educational institutions in the affected area have suffered physical damage.
It is reported that educational institutions including 15 schools were completely destroyed. Along with the students, 118 teachers are also displaced after the flood. It is said that the education of 5 thousand 486 children has been directly affected. The report mentions that 277 classrooms were damaged. It is said that 5,500 students and 300 teachers of 42 schools who suffered from mental stress due to the flood need psychosocial counseling. It is mentioned that the government and various partner organizations have been doing relief work, operating learning centers and psychosocial counseling at that time.
The report also points to weaknesses in disaster preparedness. It is said that only 10 out of 57 schools have a disaster risk reduction plan. In the 5-year comprehensive recovery plan mentioned in the report, inclusive education, sustainable development and safe school concept have been given top priority. The short-term plan is targeted to operate for one year. In which re-operation of interrupted services including temporary learning centers is emphasized. It is said that children will be educated through the center, water and sanitation facilities will be restored in schools, and access routes to schools will be provided.
The aim is to provide destroyed textbooks, furniture and learning materials, identify displaced students and bring them back to education. Among the displaced, about 250 students are from the holding center in Kathmandu. Under the mid-term plan, the goal is to rebuild the school on disaster-resistant, disability-friendly, environment-friendly and climate-friendly standards for 3 years.
There is a long-term plan to relocate and rebuild high-risk schools within 5 years. During this process, it is said that children with disabilities, displaced students and children from economically disadvantaged families will be given priority in all stages of rehabilitation. Out of 63 children with disabilities in the flood-affected areas, 28 are directly affected.
Similarly, an agreement has been reached between Child Rights Council and SOS Balgram Nepal to directly and indirectly protect and care for children affected by the Bhotekoshi flood. The council under the Ministry of Women and Children and SOS have reached an agreement to care for children in flood-affected areas and support their families. The council said that a five-year memorandum of understanding has been signed for immediate temporary and long-term protection and quality care of children affected by floods, long-term support and empowerment of affected families.
According to the agreement, 50 of the children who lost their parents or went missing due to the floods will be covered by SOS Balgram in its family-based care program. In addition, 100 children will be supported through kinship care and 100 through direct assistance. Ekantipur