The University Grant Commission (UGC) is likely to phase out grant support it has been providing to the students below the poverty line from next year with the World Bank notifying UCG about completion of its second project on higher education assistance.

Around 7000 students of Higher Secondary and Bachelors degree were benefitted from the program that was launched in 2007, according to the UGC officials. As many as 3,637 plus two students and 3,293 bachelor level students have received the scholarship till date. But the project is set to pack-up in January 2014.

UGC is continuing dialogues with the education ministry and the World Bank to revive the program for the third phase, said chairman of the Commission Dr Ganesh Man Gurung.

“The project might be revived if everything goes as planned,” said Gurung.

Over the last five years, UGC has spent Rs100 million whereas additional Rs 70 million has been allocated for the next one year term, according to the official at the Student Financial Assistance Fund Development Board (SFAFDB), the short-term project of UCG.

“Though we have Rs70 million the office needs to manage more Rs100 million to ensure scholarships to all the 7,000 students below the poverty line,” said the board director Prakash Ghimire.

The UGC had introduced the plan based on the findings of the National Living Standard Survey conducted in the year 2003/2004, which stressed on the status of youths deprived of education. The board selected students for financial assistance after reviewing their economic status.

source: The Himalayan Times,27 Jan 2013