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"Since we switched to English medium in 2000, the number of students wanting to shift from other private schools has increased but we have to turn them away because of lack of space," said Sushil Basnet, the principal of the school. [break]
Though weak in terms of infrastructure, the school currently has two sections each from grade 1 to 8. According to Basnet, approximately 100 students from various private schools have been enrolled during this year´s admission, most of them in grade 8, 9 or 10.
"Many parents bring their children to us because despite studying in private schools they do not perform well. Most of the weak students who join our school, progress fast," he claims. Annually, 95 to 100 percent of the students pass the School Leaving Certificate examinations from the school. "We provide extra classes to weak students to help them improve," says Basnet.
Established in 1971, Bal Mandir is housed in an old building but provides computer education at a cost of just Rs 50 unlike other private schools that charge up to Rs 300 monthly. The school plans to run classes through multimedia in the future. Along with low-cost education, the school also provides food to students from weak financial background at a fee of just Rs 300 monthly.
"We support the poor students with donations," says the principal. World Health Organization started providing free snacks to the students from poor background since 1999. "We continued with the free snacks system even after the program was stopped," says Basnet.
There are currently a total of 965 students in the school, 525 girls and 440 boys, most of whom come from financially weak Dalit and ethnic families. "The classrooms have a capacity of 40 students because of which the school has to deny admissions to a large number of students every year," informed Narayan Kumar Shrestha, chairman of the school management committee.
Established as a kindergarten in 1970, the school became a primary in 1985 and went on to become a lower secondary school after fourteen years. The school converted into a secondary school in 2004. The school was handed over to the community in 2005-2006.
Apart from students, even teachers from private schools are attracted to the school.
"A month back when we called applications for a grade three teacher, 75 applicants showed interest. Out of them, 50 were already employed in well known private schools," said Shrestha. According to him, the teachers want to work in community schools because they get a permanent status and have the provision for provident funds as well.
"Bal Mandir has been able to maintain better education standard and create a good impression among the community schools. Therefore, the government and other concerned people should support schools like Bal Mandir," said Hem Prasad Acharya, the head of Kaski department of District Education Office.
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