In response to parents enrolling their children in English medium schools, the principal couple of a school in Panchthar has introduced a fund for English medium education. Yegendra Bahadur Khadka, the former head of Khalde Secondary School in Kummayak Rural Municipality-1, Khalde, along with his wife, Gita Khadka, the current principal of the same school, has initiated the creation of a renewable fund amounting to Rs 250,000.
Currently offering education in English medium up to class three, the Khadka couple established the fund with the aim of improving the quality of education in English medium even for higher classes, utilizing the interest accrued from the fund. In memory of their late son, they named it 'Khadga Padma Khadka Memorial Fund.'
To counter the trend of parents enrolling their children in English medium schools starting from the fourth grade, the establishment of fund has been carried out, stated former principal Khadka. He emphasized, "The school has faced challenges in enhancing educational quality due to a lack of resources. The fund will contribute to overcoming this," he explained.
With almost 37 years of experience in the teaching profession, Yegendra Bahadur took compulsory retirement on the 1st of Baisakh due to age restrictions. Consequently, his wife, Geeta Khadka, has taken on the role of principal since then. The agreement with fund, established by the Khadka couple, outlines its utilization for the expansion of English medium education and the enhancement of educational quality. Their target is to accumulate five lakh rupees in the educational fund.
"At the secondary school level (Class 9-10), there is only one volunteer teacher position. There are no designated positions as per requirement even at the primary and secondary levels," noted former Principal Khadka. Reflecting on past initiatives where donations from parents were invested in the school's development, he expressed that the establishment of the fund serves as motivation for others.
Chairman of the school management committee, Tanka Bahadur Poudel, conveyed that due to insufficient income sources beyond government provisions, parents and administrators have been urged to invest more in the school to enhance educational quality. He has personally contributed by establishing an educational fund of Rs 151,000.
Following the establishment of the Khambasingh Poudel Memorial Fund by the Poudel family, another parent, Basanta Chamling, has established a fund of Rs one lakh and eight thousand. The school currently operates with 12 teachers, including permanent, relief, volunteer, and one sourced from private funding. Professor Khadka highlighted that with the current resources, the school struggles to expand English medium education. As of now, 142 students are enrolled in the school, which was established in 2018 and extended to the secondary level in 2066 BS.
