The academic performance of students from Chepang communities enrolled in the National Basic School at Ichhakamana Rural Municipality-2 in Chitwan has seen a significant improvement, which is attributed to the availability of a residential facility and additional tuition classes. The hostel, funded by the Ichhakamana Rural Municipality, accommodates 23 Chepang students up to grade 7, fostering regular attendance and enhanced learning abilities, as School Management Committee Chairperson Sher Bahadur Praja stated.
Chairperson Praja highlighted that most of the students are orphans or come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school's Principal, Kamal Bhandari, noted that students in the hostel exhibit discipline and emphasize cleanliness, expressing joy in their ability to stay and study alongside their peers.
Geeta Chepang, a sixth-grader, acknowledged that the residential facility provided her with the opportunity to receive an education, sharing her personal challenges, "My father passed away, and my mother remarried. I was living with my father's elder brother and his family, where economic constraints made it impossible for them to send me to school."
She added, "I plan to study here until grade 7 and then pursue further education wherever my teachers guide me." Sunita Chepang, another sixth-grader, found herself without parents after their second marriage. Staying with her maternal uncle's family, she gained guardianship and a chance to study in the hostel, which she considers a home away from home.
Sunita emphasized that the hostel environment closely resembles her home. Established four years ago, the hostel addresses the challenges faced by students from this community, considering the geographical remoteness and lack of basic facilities. The initiative, led by Pancha Bahadur Chepang, Ward No. 2 Chairperson, secured financial support from the local municipality.
In addition to providing food and residential facilities, the hostel offers extra tuition for students. Rural Municipality Chairperson Dan Bahadur Gurung committed to supporting the construction of hostels and other infrastructure, ensuring education for marginalized and impoverished students. Similar schools are proposed for other locations to encourage and retain students, particularly from the Chepang community.
