In the community schools of Suryodaya Municipality, a significant stride has been taken with the introduction of 'Smart Boards' in place of conventional 'Chalk' and 'Duster.' This transformative step from traditional blackboards to smart boards aims to amplify the integration of technology in community schools. Beyond the enhancement of technological practices, this initiative has also witnessed a notable surge in student admissions.
One such student emblematic of this shift is Prasika Nepal. Having transitioned from a private institution, she embraced the learning environment at Fikkal Secondary School in Ward 10 of Suryodaya Municipality. Enrolling in the eighth grade, Prasika expressed her contentment, stating, 'Here, we can listen to audio, watch videos, and read.'
Encouraged by her mother, Prasika's decision to shift from a private school to Fikkal has proven fruitful. Her academic performance over the past year in the community school has pleasantly surprised her father. According to municipal data from the previous academic year, there has been a commendable 25% increase in student enrollment in community schools.
The municipality reports an 11.25% rise in student numbers in public schools compared to the preceding academic year. Currently, 11,600 students from nursery to 12th grade are distributed across 97 schools, including 66 community and 31 institutional schools. Of these, 7,073 students attend public schools, while 4,527 students attend institutional schools.
As per the municipality's spokesperson, Khyam Bahadur Bhujel, 60.98% of students are enrolled in community schools, and 39.02% in institutional schools. He highlighted a significant shift, noting that in 2075, institutional schools had 57% of students, while community schools had only 43%. This shift underscores the increasing preference for community schools in the last five years.
Students such as Aradhana Bhattarai, Anamika Basyal, Tasi Tamang, Kenjola Lepcha, Suprashant Ghimire, Divyam Pradhan, and Prashant Tamang, who have transitioned from private to community schools, share positive experiences. Aradhana emphasized, 'Now, we are not just cramming for exams; we are learning to use PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. We can find information on the internet.'
Nityananda Sapkota, former principal of Himalaya Secondary School, attributes the rise in community school enrollment to improved physical infrastructure and the delivery of quality education. Sapkota stated, "The municipality has provided various technical training to teachers, raised awareness among parents, and initiated training for school management committees." He further added, "Continuous monitoring and the municipality chief's plan to enhance educational quality have positively impacted the situation."
Seven years ago, Fikkal Secondary School was situated in an old building. Following the implementation of the School Sector Development Program (SSDP), a new technologically-equipped building emerged, featuring an e-library, computer labs, math labs, internet access, and CCTV cameras in every classroom.
The introduction of e-attendance has allowed teachers to monitor student attendance, with the Education Department of the Municipality accessing this information. Yoganidhi Bhattarai, Chief of the Education Section in Sunrise Municipality, highlighted, 'The e-attendance system has supported regular classroom operations.'
Addressing the challenge of students missing school due to menstruation, the municipality introduced a sanitary pad distribution program. Now, girls can check if classes are in session through CCTV cameras installed in classrooms, ensuring consistent education for students.
E-hajiri (electronic attendance) has been implemented in schools. Information regarding whether teachers or staff have attended school is readily available to the municipality's Education Department. 'This system allows us to monitor whether teachers and staff have attended school or not,' said Yoganidhi Bhattarai.
In collaboration with a bank, the municipality has facilitated the opening of bank accounts for students from grades one to eight. The primary objective is to instill a savings habit in students. Mayor Ran Bahadur Rai emphasized, 'Students cannot withdraw money until grade eight. This program aims to support education beyond grade eight.' Both the municipality and the bank contribute to a fixed monthly amount.
The municipality also actively collects data on pregnant women. 'Information on children born in the last three years is collected on the ACD card. Plans are formulated based on this data,' stated Yoganidhi Bhattarai, Chief of the Education Section.
