March 11, Kathmandu – The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has launched a new initiative to address incidents of harassment and abuse faced by students from schools to universities. Minister Sasmita Pokharel has made a public appeal, urging students who have experienced any form of abuse to directly register their complaints with the ministry. Through social media, she has asked students enrolled in schools and universities to report any abuse they have faced or are currently facing.
Minister Pokharel emphasized that the ministry aims to create a safe educational environment and will promptly investigate and take action on complaints received. She further stated that the ministry has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment and exploitation occurring within educational institutions. Students can file their complaints using an online form provided by the ministry.
When submitting a complaint, students are required to include: 1. The name of the educational institution where they are studying; 2. The nature of the abuse; and 3. Detailed description of the incident. This mechanism allows students to report issues related to ethnic and gender discrimination, verbal or physical abuse, sexual violence, psychological pressure, bullying, and online harassment, among other concerns.
