Tilottama Municipality in Rupandehi has begun implementing a “Big School Model” with the aim of improving the quality of education in community schools.
The move comes after the municipality concluded that schools with very low student numbers were delivering poor educational outcomes and failing to justify state investment. Currently, schools in Tilottama include 42 community schools (including one Guthi school) with over 19,000 students, and 42 institutional schools with more than 23,000 students.
The issue is particularly evident at the basic level, where low enrollment has led to weak academic performance. Following consultations with education experts, principals, and school management committees, the municipality introduced legal provisions to merge smaller schools and adjust grade levels in others.
As part of the reform, minimum standards have been set. Each class must have at least 15 students. Schools that fail to meet this benchmark have been merged, while those meeting the criteria will continue operating as they are.
In the first phase, 6 smaller schools have been merged into nearby larger schools, reducing the total number of community schools to 36. Additionally, grade levels have been adjusted in 7 schools.
According to Ravi Senchuri, Coordinator of the Social Development Section of the municipality, some schools had as few as 6 students and 5 teachers, with inadequate infrastructure and limited space. Such conditions made it difficult to ensure quality education, prompting the shift to the Big School Model.
Under this model, students will have access to free transportation through school buses, and schools are expected to become more competitive, ultimately improving educational standards.
Mayor Ram Krishna Khanal stated that the decision was based on a report prepared by a 9-member task force after two months of field study. The initiative aims to address declining student enrollment, poor academic performance, imbalanced teacher-student ratios, decreasing parental interest, and high per-student costs in community schools.
As part of the restructuring, several basic schools have been merged into nearby secondary or larger schools. Similarly, some schools have had their grade levels reduced.
The municipality also plans to utilize the infrastructure of merged schools as sector schools to ensure better organization and management.
School Mergers and Level Adjustments
Under the merger process, Bohiya Basic School and Kotihimai Misuzu Basic School in Ward 16 have been consolidated into Kotahi Mai Misuju Basic School.
Similarly, Kotiyamai Basic School in Ward 12 has been merged into Saraswati Basic School. Medini Basic School in Ward 6 has been integrated into Shanti Namuna Secondary School in Ward 5.
Shanti Namuna Secondary School, located in Manigram, is one of the largest schools in Nepal, with over 5,000 students. In last year’s SEE examination, 18 students from the school secured a perfect GPA of 4.0.
Likewise, Namuna Mahila Basic School in Ward 14 has been merged into Tikuligadh Secondary School in the same ward.
Navjyoti Shankarman Basic School in Ward 11 has been merged into Bhulke Secondary School, while Semari Basic School in Ward 13 has been integrated into Janata Secondary School, according to Ravi Senchuri.
In terms of level adjustments, Bal Bikash Basic School in Ward 17 and Jyoti Basic School in Ward 8 have been downgraded from Grade 8 to Grade 5.
Shivapur Secondary School in Ward 11 has been reduced from Grade 12 to Grade 10, while Ganesh Basic School in the same ward has been limited from Grade 8 to Grade 5.
Similarly, Babhani Basic School in Ward 13 and Saraswati Basic School in Ward 12 have been scaled down from Grade 5 to Grade 3. Satyalakshmi Basic School in Ward 6 has also been reduced from Grade 5 to Grade 3.
Senchuri added that the infrastructure of merged schools will be utilized as sector schools and further managed to improve organization and efficiency.
Stricter and Transparent Scholarship Policy in Private Schools
Alongside structural reforms, the municipality has also tightened and streamlined the scholarship system in institutional schools to make it more transparent and effective.
According to Ward Chair Ganesh Pathak, more than 2,300 students out of over 23,000 enrolled in private schools will receive full scholarships.
The scholarship package will cover admission fees, monthly tuition, and transportation costs. Priority will be given to meritorious and underprivileged students, including those from indigenous communities, Dalit, Madhesi, Muslim, persons with disabilities, and minority groups.
Deputy Mayor Jageshwari Devi Chaudhary stated that the municipality will take steps such as preparing its own question papers to ensure transparency in scholarship distribution.
