Locals raise funds to transform school into residential facility

BY RAJ KUMAR BHATTARAI,Khotang, May 18: Kalika Basic School, located in Kubhinde Damku of Rawa Besi Rural Municipality-1, has been converted into a residential school with funds raised by local villagers.

According to school administration, Kalika Basic School was transformed into a boarding school to provide value-based and practical education. The school, which had already been engaging students in agricultural activities, has now constructed residential facilities to accommodate students on campus. At present, vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage and onions grown by the students can be seen within the school premises.

To support this initiative, a fundraising campaign was launched under the coordination of ward member Bishal Rai. So far, approximately Rs. 900,000 has been collected from individual donors, informed the committee’s treasurer, Bhim Bahadur Rai. 

Around Rs. 400,000 has been spent on building a kitchen, purchasing supplies and food procurement. The rural municipality has also supported the project by providing 15 mattresses, blankets, bed sheets and 30 pillows. 

At a time when the number of students in community schools is declining, Kalika School has seen an increase in enrollment this year after introducing residential facilities and English-medium instruction. 

With all preparations completed, the school officially began operating as a residential institution in mid-May.

Established in 1979, Kalika Basic School currently runs up to Grade 8, which was introduced this year. According to School Management Committee Chairman Ram Bahadur Rai, classes up to Grade 2 are taught in English. 

Headmaster Tikaram Rai stated that the school employs a total of nine staff members, including one office assistant and one early childhood development teacher. The number of students has increased from 42 last year to 62 this year. Since becoming a residential school, 22 students from outside have joined Kalika. 

Among them, four students who had previously enrolled in private schools in the village have returned. One student has come from Halesi, two from Buipa, two from Hurlung and 13 from Kubhinde, said Headmaster Rai.

Parents said that they enrolled their children at Kalika School because of its quality education and newly added residential facilities.

The sc hool plans to provide free accommodation to 10 students who are Dalit, from poor families, or orphans. 

Currently, seven students are staying in the residential facility under this scholarship scheme. 

At present, there are 14 boys in the boys’ hostel and 20 girls in the girls’ hostel. To ensure proper care, a female teacher is assigned to the girls’ hostel and a male teacher to the boys’ hostel. Headmaster Rai’s two daughters are also staying in the hostel.

The school has hired a staff member to prepare meals and snacks for residential students. 

Parents are required to pay a monthly sanitation fee of Rs. 650 and a hostel fee of Rs. 1,500. However, the school has a policy to exempt students from Grade 3 and above from hostel fees in exchange for participating in cleaning du ties themselves.

Currently, Kalika School has five buildings, both old and new. A new three-room building was constructed with a grant of Rs. 250,000 from the Eco Himal organisation and around Rs. 150,000 worth of community labour contributions. 

Chairman Rai stated that the local government will provide further support to make the residential school more organised and sustainable in the long run.