KATHMANDU – In a significant boost to Nepal’s education sector, India has pledged substantial financial aid for constructing modern school infrastructure in two key districts. On Friday, foundation stones were laid for new school buildings in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City in Rupandehi district and Jayaprithvi Municipality in Bajhang district.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu announced that the Nayagaon Secondary School in Butwal will receive approximately 4.4 crore Nepali rupees from India for its new building. The groundbreaking ceremony was jointly performed by Suman Shekhar, First Secretary at the Indian Embassy, and Mayor Khel Raj Pandey of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City.
In a parallel development, the administrative building and hostels at Shree Satyavadi Secondary School in Bhojpur, Jayaprithvi Municipality, Bajhang, saw its foundation laid with Indian funding of about 13.9 crore Nepali rupees. First Secretary Narayan Singh and Mayor Chet Raj Bajal officiated the event.
These state-of-the-art facilities will feature a three-story administrative block, separate hostels for boys and girls, toilets, and auxiliary structures, promising enhanced learning environments for thousands of students.
Both projects fall under the High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP), executed by local municipalities. HICDP, evolving from earlier Small Grant Projects since 2003, targets Nepal’s priority areas like education, health, water supply, sanitation, rural electrification, and infrastructure.
This initiative underscores the deep India-Nepal development partnership. ‘As close neighbors and development partners, India and Nepal share multi-sectoral cooperation,’ the embassy stated, highlighting India’s commitment to bolstering Nepal’s progress.
These schools will not only improve access to quality education but also empower remote communities, fostering long-term socio-economic growth in the region.