In a coordinated effort to broaden access to higher education, six universities in Nepal, including Tribhuvan University, have launched a joint initiative to guarantee a minimum of a 10% full scholarship for students across all their constituent and affiliated campuses. The Vice-Chancellors of these universities have collectively stepped forward to enforce this policy, issuing separate official directives to initiate the administrative process.
The participating institutions include Tribhuvan University, Purbanchal University, Rajarshi Janak University, Agriculture and Forestry University, Pokhara University, and Sudurpaschim University. According to the official circulars, these universities have instructed their respective campuses to strictly adhere to the mandatory scholarship guidelines when enrolling students for the upcoming academic session 2083/084 BS. Within this framework, Pokhara University has maintained a distinct allocation structure, offering a 20 percent scholarship in its constituent colleges and a 10% scholarship in its affiliated colleges.
Under the standard regulatory framework, campuses must reserve at least 10% of their total approved seat capacity for scholarships targeting meritorious, underprivileged, and marginalized students. Eligible candidates will be selected and admitted into these reserved seats in strict accordance with the approved scholarship procedures and guidelines of the respective universities and their affiliated colleges.
Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmit Pokharel, commended the initiative, describing it as a significant milestone toward ensuring educational equity, equal opportunity, and social justice. In a social media statement, the Minister noted that this university-level policy is built on the institutional experience of successfully implementing a similar 10% scholarship model within the Kathmandu Metropolitan City school system.
This directive aligns with earlier efforts by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. On Chaitra 30, the Ministry had formally requested local government authorities, through the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, to monitor both private and public schools. The local bodies were urged to coordinate the tracking of the mandatory 10% scholarship distribution based on student enrollment and to initiate legal proceedings against non-compliant educational institutions.
