Scholarship Program, Bhutanese and Nepalese: 2010-2011

INTRODUCTION: Foundation launched a scholarship programme for deserving students from among the Bhutanese refugees and the local community members, living in the refugee affected areas. Serious of discussions with the stakeholders were held, and the selection criteria determined before launching the program. In the year 2011, the Foundation decided to award scholarships to four deserving students...

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERAINTRODUCTION: Foundation launched a scholarship programme for deserving students from among the Bhutanese refugees and the local community members, living in the refugee affected areas. Serious of discussions with the stakeholders were held, and the selection criteria determined before launching the program. In the year 2011, the Foundation decided to award scholarships to four deserving students from the refugee camps, to attend 10+2 courses in the various educational institutions in the locality. Another four Nepalese students (below grade 10 level) obtained the privilege to attend schools under the same program. The program was announced through the Foundation’s website and the local media in Jhapa and Morang districts. Selection was accordingly done and the student scholars were selected. 

SELECTION PROCEDURES

IMG_1020(A)  Bhutanese Scholars: For effective selection of scholars from the camps, a selection committee comprising the Head Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher, two School Counsellors and one representative from the Camp Management Committee was formed in each camp. This committee screened the applications and selected at least two students for the final round. A total of 14 students from seven refugee camps contested for the final selection round held at Tri-Ratna Secondary School at Beldangi-II. A separate selection committee involving Head Teachers of all Secondary schools in the camps, Camp Secretaries of Beldangi-II and Goldhap, and a representative from the Foundation selected four most deserving students, including a disabled girl for scholarship. The following table shows the names of those students to whom scholarship is awarded. 

SN

Scholars

Study Stream

Institute

Location

1

Srijana Rai

Commerce

Amity College

Birtamod, Jhapa

2

Raj Kr Gurung

Science

Siddhartha Campus

Damak, Jhapa

3

Gopi Maya Rai

Humanities

Saraswati HS School

Damak, Jhapa

4

Mani Kr. Bhattarai

Commerce

Global Academy

Damak, Jhapa

IMG_0899(B) Nepalese Scholars: Based on the criteria announced in the application calls, the Foundation did not receive any applications for pursuing higher secondary courses, from the refugee community. As a consequence, a decision was taken to award scholarship to four Nepalese students (below grade ten level) from the local Nepalese community. A committee consisting of Principals of three local Nepalese schools, a local educationalist, Ram Basnet and a representative from the Foundation selected these students. The following table shows the names of deserving students to whom scholarship was awarded.

SN

Scholars

Age

Grade

School

Location

1

Unica Dahal

10

Four

Saraswati LS School

Beldangi, Damak-3, Jhapa

2

Pooja Dhimal

14

Eight

Saraswati LS School

Beldangi, Damak-3, Jhapa

3

Mousam Rai

11

Four

Brikuti LS School

Bhangbari, Damak-1, Jhapa

4

Usha Basnet

10

Four

Chulachuli LS School

Dumse, Damak-5, Jhapa

Selection criteria:

  1. All school going children of activists, who were murdered during detention or in prison, or on the streets, or while participating in the struggle for human rights and democracy in Bhutan, are eligible to contest for this scholarship.
  2. All school going children of those political prisoners, who are currently serving prison sentence are eligible to contest for this scholarship.
  3. Children of political prisoners born of rape while serving prison are eligible to contest for this scholarship.
  4. All school going children of individuals, who are/were kidnapped, detained or made to disappear are eligible to contest for this scholarship.
  5. In rare instance(s) certain vulnerable children are eligible for the scholarship. A vulnerable child is one who falls under one of these categories – the child has no support system, his/her parents are victims of political injustice, he/she is deprived of rights to education or has no means to accomplish it, and one who is displaced within the country or forcefully exiled.
  6. A candidate claiming eligibility on the basis of his/her parent(s) being murdered during detention, or while serving prison, or while campaigning for human rights and democracy; whose parent(s) have  disappeared or are currently serving prison or jail needs to show evidences supporting his/her claim. The evidence can be obtained from an international organization like Amnesty International, Red Cross Society or a credible organization like National Human Rights Commission etc. If these are not possible, then the candidate will need to explain the details in the motivation letter.
  7. The eligible candidate must be willing to produce his/her recent academic certificates.
  8. He/she shall be willing to obtain and fill the scholarship form as completely as possible.
  9. Unless otherwise required to relocate to other areas for serious security reasons, the candidate must be willing to attend schools/colleges in their own localities; that charges reasonable tuition fees.
  10. He/she shall be a hardworking student, focussed on studies.
  11. He/she shall be willing to produce an academic report every six months, about his/her performance and progress achieved in school. In case of under aged children, their legal guardians can help them prepare (not write) the report.
  12. An academic progress report approved by the principal/head teacher is deemed necessary but not obligatory. 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAScholarship amount: Each Bhutanese scholar was granted US $ 200.00 as his or her tuition fee for one year. The contract papers signed by these scholars require that renewal of scholarship depends on their academic performance and   financial status of the Foundation. Similarly, the Nepalese scholars received US $ 70 each for the year 2011. 

Everyone has appreciated the PF Scholarship Programme. However, scholars have expressed that the scholarship amount will not cover up their expenses for the whole academic year. The local guardians of the Nepalese students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the resettled Bhutanese and the Foundation for bringing up such a noble program to help disadvantaged children in their community. Both communities – the Bhutanese refugee community and the local Nepalese community expect that the Foundation will increase the number of scholarships and scholarship amounts in future.

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