Education for the best students has been blocked for 5 years due to lack of budget

This year too, the government is scheduled to announce the list of students who will get Nepal Vidya Bhushan 'A', 'B' and 'C', Nepal Technik Vidya Bhushan, Nepal Chhatra Vidyapadak 'A' and 'B' and Chhatra Award Medals on October 2 on the occasion of Education Day. But the Ministry of Education did not make the medal due to lack of budget. The Ministry of Education issued a notification last Wednesday and said that the medal and certificate distribution program will be published after the date. Last year, it was decided to award 962 students with Vidya Bhushan medals. But it was not distributed because there was no money to make gold and silver studded medals.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Education Kamal Prasad Pokharel said that there is no situation to distribute medals due to lack of budget. Due to lack of budget, the medal and certificate distribution program has been postponed for now. We will make the names public," he said. "We are trying to raise funds, if we cannot raise it, there is talk of giving only certificates." This year, about 300 students are likely to get medals.

It is estimated that 60 million will be spent to distribute medals, awards, and certificates to about 1200 students since 2076, but only 6 million has been allocated for this purpose. According to a deputy secretary of the ministry, it costs about 30,000 to make one medal. Last year, the Ministry announced that the list of recipients of medals and awards on Education Day will be distributed on February 7 on the occasion of Democracy Day. The

budget was not distributed even then. According to an official of the Ministry of Education, last year they requested the budget from the Ministry of Finance, but they were told to make arrangements from the allocated budget. This year too, sufficient budget has not been arranged for medals.

Jumla's Radhika Budthapa's name is in the list of Vidya Bhushan Medal recipients for 2076. She has a degree in Buddhist philosophy but has not received a medal. Last year, the Ministry of Education did not make a medal. No budget this year. They don't give us respect. It's embarrassing to even talk," she said, "The government only distributes assurances, there is no budget to reward those who have worked hard and read."

Ait Vishwakarma, a student of Tribhuvan University who was shortlisted for the Vidya Bhushan Medal after applying last year, said that despite the announcement by the state, the medal was arbitrarily not awarded. He has sat in the Ministry of Education to do whatever he can. They don't do the same thing," he said. "Those who received medals were encouraged to study, teach and research, but the government has been negligent by not giving the announced medals and awards." The students complain that the government only promised medals and awards.

A deputy secretary said that even though there are two sides on the issue of distribution of education medals within the ministry, budget arrangements have not been made. There are some officials who are against the distribution of medals. Sumana Shrestha was the Minister of Education during the preparation of the budget. His team also did not give priority to the medals,' he said, 'there is confusion due to the use of gold and silver in the medals and the employees who do not want to be involved in the procurement process.' He also said.

Nepal Vidya Bhushan, Nepal Technology Vidya Bhushan, Nepal Chhatra Vidyapadak and National Education Award Guidelines 2077 set the criteria for the medal. It is mentioned in the guidelines that various medals, certificates, shields, flags or cash and national education awards will be given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the education sector by giving national importance to education for the overall development and improvement of the country, and to students and educational institutions who have achieved the best position in the education sector. According to the guidelines, those who have obtained a degree or higher degree are awarded the Nepal Vidya Bhushan 'A' category medal. A medal should be made of 42 grams of pure silver and one gram of gold plated. At the post-graduate level, there is a provision to get 'B' category scholarship first. 32 grams of pure silver and one gram of gold coating are mentioned in the guidelines for making medals.

There is a provision for the best in the graduation level to receive a medal of 'C' category with 22 grams of pure silver and one gram of gold coating. The female student who obtains the highest number of marks or grades at the graduation level gets the 'A' category Nepal Chhatra Vidyapadak, which is made of 30 grams of silver and one gram of gold. A 'B' category medal made of 30 grams of silver is awarded to the girl student who secures the highest marks or grades in CTEVT in Class 12th or Technical Education.

Science and Technology Engineering, Agriculture, Animal Science, Forestry Science, Medicine or above, there is an arrangement to provide Nepal Technology Vidya Bhushan Medal to 2/2 students of each faculty of the university on the basis of research paper prepared to continue their studies or above. Based on the recommendations of the University Grants Commission, there is a provision to award 31 grams of pure silver and one gram of gold coated medals. There is a criteria for asking for applications from students, scrutinizing them and recommending them for medals.

National Education Day was celebrated on February 12 since 2031 in Nepal. After the establishment of the Republic, International Literacy Day was also celebrated as Education Day. It was postponed from 2076 as it is not appropriate to celebrate Education Day and Literacy Day on the same day. The cabinet meeting on 9th June 2080 decided to celebrate Education Day on 2nd October across the country.

The Cabinet has decided to celebrate the National Education Day on October 2 on the occasion of the promulgation of the Compulsory and Free Education Act, 2075, as stipulated in the constitution. Along with the announcement of the new date of Education Day, it was also decided to distribute medals and prizes. To celebrate the Education Day this year, a core function committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Education Minister Vidya Bhattarai. The theme of the day for 2081 to 2085 is 'Knowledge, Science, Skills, Enterprise and Innovation: Partnership and Systemic Empowerment'.