A Rural School in Nepal by Lokendra Thapa Magar, English Teacher, Shree Karnadhar Secondary School.

Before some years when I introduced our school, Karnadhar, the condition was very poor. It was struggling in the lack of basic furniture, sufficient classrooms, good drinking water, toilet facilities etc. Unfurnished, single brick walls, small rough blackboards, unplastered dusty floor, no doors or windows to be closed and old corrugated iron roof with innumerable holes to peep into the sky were its characteristics.
Most of the classes used to go blank in summer monsoon season because the roof protected only from sun not rain. Some of the grades had not their own classroom and had to sit in the open outdoors for their lessons.

In such condition the villagers dared to run up to class 10 because it had the government support only up to class 7. Classes 8, 9 and 10 were run by local donations. Sport items, a library and a science lab were beyond our imagination.

Since the involvement of some of our western donors the school has made progress and recently Karnadhar celebrated its 50th anniversary "The Golden Jubilee". On this occasion all our foreign supporters were duly remembered.
By this time the school has made some important achievements. We have got a cassette tape recorder that makes our English listening lessons successful. We have a good loud speaker set for our frequent ceremonial functions. A number of very good and interesting books have been increasing for our future library. Many students are helped by being given their text books, uniforms and money for their school fees. The children enjoy some sport items when they are provided even though they are second hand.
The toilet for the staff is in use but although the one for students is being built it is not complete because of financial difficulties. The most important thing is that we don't have to miss classes in the rain and wind because the water tight concrete roof protects us. The building has doors and windows that can be closed and plastered floors now. The blackboards are also new, bigger and smooth so it is easy and very good to write on.
Recently a wrought iron balustrade has been put up to protect the access to two second floor class rooms and also the steps so the children are safe now.
All the teachers and students have benefited by the voluntary teachers who have come to the school. We have learnt so many things from them and from the links we have with some schools in Scotland. The cultural exchange is valuable to both teachers and students, not just for Karnadhar but for the Scottish schools too I hope.. Now our children don't run away when they see foreigners as they did before but they welcome and like to talk to them. The children attend more regularly now compared to the past, the total number of students has increased to over 450 from 300.

However needs are never fulfilled, the main problem for the moment is payment for some of the teachers. Five teachers are employed without government support to fill the teaching periods up to class 10. Their salary is paid by the fund of the village development committee, but because of the Maoist insurgency the government has withheld the budget for "security" since two years and the poor local donation means that it is eighteen months since they received their salary; it is very hard for them to survive and continue teaching.