The government has earmarked Rs116 billion for the education sector, which is around 11 percent of the total budget. 

In the annual budget presented on Saturday, the government set aside a hopping Rs26 billion to implement the School Sector Development Programme, which replaces the School Sector Reform Programme. 

The SSDP aims to make education accessible to all the children and improve the quality of education in schools across the country. 

The government has proposed to complete the reconstruction of schools in the next three years.

The budget states that education up to the eighth grade will be made compulsory and free while that would be replicated in the secondary level gradually.

The government has proposed special programmes for the Tarai region to attract children to school. For the children of Badi, Haliya, Musahar and other marginalised communities, the government has announced a voucher-based education system. Under this, cash vouchers would be provided to the parents for enrolling their children in schools of their choice.

The government has also continued with the mid-day meal programme in the entire Karnali zone and other districts ranking low in the Human Development Index.