Kathmandu, April 26

The Ministry of Education is all set to upgrade 125 Transitional Learning Centres in 14 districts worst affected by the earthquakes last year.

The ministry has decided to provide Rs 1.6 million to each school in the districts for TLC upgradation.

Ima Narayan Shrestha, chief, Project Implementation Unit, MoE, today said the government has allocated Rs 200 million for upgradration of TLCs.

“We have sought details of schools that are in dire need of budget to upgrade the TLCs,” he said, adding, “As soon as we get the details, we will release the budget.”

The devastating earthquakes last year damaged 9,353 schools in 59 districts across the country. Around 1,200 students and 68 teachers died in the earthquakes.

The MoE et up 8,000 TLCs (16,000 classrooms) in 31 districts after the earthquakes. Various national and international organisations set up additional 4,000 TLCs in various districts.

Similarly, various organisations, student unions, business entrepreneurs and others set up 24,000 temporary classrooms in various parts of the country.

“We will construct prefab classrooms in the needy areas with the fund allocated by National Reconstruction Authority,” said Shrestha.

He further said that schools should build semi-permanent prefab classrooms with the fund. Each school will have to construct two prefab classrooms.

The Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency have provided financial assistance for the construction of 1,500 school buildings in 14 districts worst hit by the earthquake.

A total of 5,000 schools need to be reconstructed in these districts.

ADB and JICA had pledged a loan of Rs 20 billion for reconstruction of schools.

ADB is supporting school reconstruction in Dolakha, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Kavre, Kathmandu, Okhaldhunga and Bhaktapur, while JICA will help rebuild schools in Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Makawanpur and Lalitpur.