PYUTHAN, Nov 29: Challenging the traditional gender stereotype and putting aside their household works, some women have shouldered the responsibility of running a school in the district by themselves. Not just the teachers but also the principal of Tribeni Primary School (TPS) of Pyuthan Municipality-8, Baskhola is a woman.Shanta Paudel is the principal of the school. "Women are always treated as the second sex but we want to prove all that women too can do anything if they are given opportunity," said Principal Paudel. The excellent grades of students and proper maintenance of the school has set an example in the district.
In comparison to other schools operated by males, TPS is ahead in terms of a lot of things. There is a boarding school in the same place where students are taught in English medium. As to make their school more competitive, TPS started teaching students in English medium since this year.
A communibty school becoming an example in rural Baglung
Another woman Januka Sedhain leads the school management committee of the school. Similarly, Kamala Dashaudi heads the Teacher and Parent Association. Established in 2007, this school lies in a remote area. Dalits and minorities mostly occupy this area.
Stating that nothing is impossible if we try, teacher Khagisara Bhandari said, "Where there is a will, there is a way."All five teachers, including the principal and chairs of various other committees of the school, are of the same age group. Though the school is yet to work on infrastructure, it at least does not have to compromise on education. In lack of desk and benches, students and teachers are obliged to sit in carpet but that has not bothered them from carrying out their responsibilities.
Students have decorated the walls of the school with their arts and quotes from famous writers."All these women have managed to make this an exemplary school in the whole municipality," said Shivarap Pandit, chief of Education Development and Coordination Unit, Pyuthan, adding, "They have taught us how an empty classroom can be turned into a book."As this school lacks enough rooms, the available rooms have been parted to make optimum use. "We lack proper building and classrooms but we try to make sure that our students will be able to compete with the students of any other boarding school in the district.Currently, there are more than 120 students in the school.
