Students in constant fear from dilapidated condition of Basudev school in Baitadi

By Gokarna Dayal,Baitadi, Feb. 10: Students of Basudev Basic School in Tadi village of Sunarya Rural Municipality-3, Baitadi district, are studying in constant fear that the dilapidated school building in which they have classrooms could collapse anytime. 

Former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand had begun his primary level education from this school in 1949, when it had hired seven teachers from India. 

Now, the students have been studying in fear since the school building is crumbling and the sun and rain could easily reach the classes from the wrecked roof. 

Only three teachers are now in the school that runs classes up to grade 8. Headmaster Sundardev Bhatta said that although local teachers were appointed on a temporary basis, there were no teachers to teach Nepali subjects at the higher level.

He said, "The school lacks qualified teachers. Besides, due to decrepit building, we have divided three-room building built in 2015 into six rooms and conducted classes." Since there are no extra classrooms for grade 1 and 2, the school is compelled to run the classes under a dilapidated building, he added. 

In 1962, the school had conducted classes up to grade 9. After Basudev Secondary School was operated with same name as the school in 1963 in another village, the classes were reduced to grade 5. But, at present the school is conducting classes up to grade 8. 

Former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand's father Mahavir Chand is the founder of the school. Lokendra Bahadur Chand had also taught for some time in the school, which was operated by inviting teachers from India, former student Tarkaraj Bhatta said.

He said that even though the school had produced many national figures including former Deputy Inspector General of Police Jaya Bahadur Chand, no one had shown interest in rebuilding the dilapidated condition of the school building. 

Bhatta, who is the former headmaster of Gyaneshwor Model High School Baitadi and is currently a teacher, said that he was on a campaign to gather support for the educational and physical development of the school by forming a former Students Association.