NGOs to support construction of school buildings in Gorkha

GORKHA, Dec 22: At a time when the government has failed to lead reconstruction efforts, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been taking initiations to reconstruct school buildings. The NGOs have already signed deals with the education department and prepared budget statements.

Gorkha District Education Office informed that several NGOs have singed a deal to rebuild 75 schools in Gorkha. District Education Officer Hari Aryal informed that Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) alone has agreed to fund construction of buildings at 30 schools in the district. Likewise, organizations like Manaslu Foundation, Asal Chhimeki, Gau Batabaran Nepal, Save the Children, Change Nepal, Chaudhari Foundation and Heads Nepal have inked deals with the Education Department to construct buildings at the schools, according to Aryal.

As per the plan, the new buildings will have two to 18 rooms and it will take six months to two years to complete the construction of the school buildings. The buildings will have to be constructed as per the design prepared by the Urban Development and Housing Department, according to the agreement.

The catastrophic earthquake of April 25 destroyed three buildings, out of four, of Jageshwar High School in Borlang-7. The school has been running classes under tents since. Both the teachers and the students shiver in cold while the classes are held inside the tents.

The school was built with the joint efforts of the government and the locals 40 years ago. The locals had not renovated the buildings since its construction four decades ago and they were destroyed within seconds during the recent earthquake. Youth Action Nepal has started to erect an eight-room building in the school.

Lawmaker Ek Nath Dhakal laid the foundation stone of the building that is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 7.5 million. Speaking during the event, Dhakal said that education and health sector should be given priority to take the development process forward.

Most of the schools in the district were destroyed during the quake. Students are compelled to study in open space, tents and tarpaulins braving the winter chill. However, the District Education Office (DEO) itself doesn't have any plan yet to start the reconstruction of the schools in the district.

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