Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government has allocated Rs 197.29 billion to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology for the
Presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24 on Monday, Minister for Finance Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the government has allocated Rs 8.45 billion for the school meal program, Rs 3.02 billion for secondary and higher secondary education, and Rs 3.58 billion to distribute textbooks free of cost.
Increasing access to quality education, focusing on research-based education, managing basic education, bringing and retaining children in schools, providing residential facilities for students in the Himalayan region, offering the opportunity to study in the mother tongue, and continuing the scholarship program are some of the programs introduced by the government.
The government has also set aside a budget to open five model schools across the country. Likewise, the government has said that the school meal program will benefit 3.2 million students.
Minister Mahat has stated that the government will continue its program to distribute sanitary pads for girls. Likewise, it has removed the provision that required only individuals studying education in university to apply for teaching licenses.
The government has allocated Rs 196.4 billion for education in the current fiscal year.
