Humla schools run classes in open to avoid cold

By Rajan Rawat,Humla, Nov. 20: Schools opened after Tihar have been forced to run classes in the open due to the increasing cold in the Himalayan district of Humla. 

As it is difficult to run teaching-learning activities sitting inside the classrooms due to the shivering cold, the classes have to be run in the sunshine outside.  Sabita Chhatyal, a ninth grader at Himjyoti Secondary School, Sarkegard of Sarkegard Rural Municipality-4, said that they have been studying in the open ground for the last 10 days. She said that classrooms are too cold to stay in during winter.    

She said that all classes except the first period are conducted in the open ground.  Although there is a lot of noise while studying outside the classroom, students are forced to study in the open due to the cold, she said.

Jaya Bahadur Dhami, Headmaster of the school, said that as per the advice of class teachers and students, classes were running in the open. 

The sun shines after 9:00 am and sets at 2: 00 pm, which has led to an increase in cold. Students of smaller classes have to study on the ground from the first period. As school uniform is made mandatory, students cannot wear warm clothes which do not match the school dress.  

Moreover, arrangements have been made to allow the students of Lali Gurans Secondary School, Lipne of Sarkegard Rural Municipality-2,  to bask in the sun while taking classes as the sun shines for only three hours there. Even the students can take classes sitting by the fire as fire is also built for students in this particular school.  Kali Bahadur Mahatara, Headmaster of  Lali Gurans, said that arrangements have been made to build a fire in the school area as the sun sets after 12.

The school is on the banks of the Karnali River, so the sun becomes visible for a short time in the winter season. He said that all classes in his school are run in the open ground. The students themselves have been making arrangements to make a fire outside the classrooms, Mahatara said. 

According to the Education Development and Coordination Unit, the number of schools running classes in the open during the winter season is more than 45 in Humla.