While the Constitution of Nepal guarantees free secondary education, harsh economic realities keep over 770,000 children out of school, with girls bearing the heaviest brunt. In a bid to reverse this dropout trend, Global IME Bank has stepped forward as a guardian for 191 underprivileged girls across Nepal through its dedicated scholarship program.
According to recent data, one in four youth aged 15-19 is out of school. While basic level enrollment stands at a high 97.8%, the secondary level enrollment plummets to a mere 35.4%, mostly impacting female students due to financial constraints and socio-geographical challenges.
Addressing this critical gap, Global IME Bank has been running the 'Global IME Scholarship for Schoolgirls' program for the past five years. The initiative fully funds the education of 191 selected girls from Class 6 to Class 12, providing an annual stipend of Rs 12,000 per student to cover their academic expenses.
The scholarship has a nationwide footprint, benefiting 30 students in Koshi, 23 in Madhesh, 29 in Bagmati, 29 in Gandaki, 32 in Lumbini, 25 in Karnali, and 23 in Sudurpashchim Province.
Highlighting the bank’s vision, a senior official stated, "Our goal is to ensure that no girl is forced to abandon her dreams due to a lack of money. By investing in their education today, we are empowering the leaders of tomorrow and tackling the high female dropout rates across the country."
Moving beyond financial aid, the bank is actively upgrading infrastructure in community schools across Nepal. It has initiated the construction of libraries in Samata Schools across all seven provinces and is equipping community schools with smart boards and e-libraries. Furthermore, the bank has distributed school uniforms to over 2,000 students across 35 public schools, cementing its commitment to building a brighter, more equitable future.
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