Balmandir Secondary School

Balmandir Secondary School, located in Kalipul, Beni Municipality-8, Myagdi, has witnessed remarkable growth and transformation over the past decade. Once on the verge of closure due to low student enrollment, the school has now established itself as one of the most progressive community schools in the area, attracting students even from private institutions.

Established in 2028 B.S. (1971 A.D.) and relocated to Kalipul in 2058 B.S. (2001 A.D.), Balmandir Secondary School initially served children from a local orphanage run by the Nepal Children’s Organization. Today, it offers education up to Grade 10 and recently sent its first cohort of 10 students to the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) in 2081 B.S. The school has a current enrollment of 272 students, which is expected to reach around 350 by the end of the admission campaign.

The school implements an English-medium curriculum and follows a well-structured academic and infrastructural development plan. It emphasizes student-centered teaching methods, departmental responsibility-sharing among teachers, and regular assessment of student progress. A one-year pre-primary (KG) program is offered after early childhood education before entry into Grade 1.

Balmandir Secondary School features a well-maintained learning environment, with dedicated spaces for computer and science labs, a library, and organized classrooms equipped with learning materials. The school has also introduced practices such as student ID-based outpasses, regular extracurricular and sports activities, and morning assemblies with news reading, general knowledge, and cultural presentations.

Every trimester, the school conducts both group and individual parent–teacher interactions, including phone-based updates, to track and support each student's academic and behavioral development. It has also established strong partnerships with various organizations and donors to provide scholarships, uniforms, and educational materials for underprivileged students.

The school celebrates student birthdays, honors participants of extracurricular competitions, and encourages student involvement beyond the classroom. Despite being a community school, it does not charge any fees from parents. It has also generated sustainable funding through the lease of on-campus commercial spaces, covering salaries for four teachers and one security personnel.

Over the past ten years, the school has invested more than NPR 25 million in infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of four buildings, science and computer labs, toilets, a multipurpose hall, paved playgrounds, and clean drinking water systems. A five-room hostel is currently under construction, and a school cafeteria is now operational within the premises.

More than 90% of the school’s students come from Dalit communities, and efforts are ongoing to establish a permanent education support fund of NPR 500,000 for underprivileged learners. Despite some challenges, such as mid-session student transfers and limited hostel and playground facilities, Balmandir Secondary School stands as a model for the transformation of public education in Myagdi. The school continues to receive support from the local government in academic and infrastructural expansion, helping meet the growing demand for quality education in the region.