Himalayan News Service

Ilam, February 9

Incredible, but true! Trendsetting residents of Dhuseni VDC of western Ilam are running a secondary school with proceeds from sales of chickens and goats.

The school was recognised as a lower secondary school in 1996. Now it is being run by locals as a secondary level school.

Since its inception locals have been donating cash every month for the salary of the teachers, said teacher Am Bahadur Bithakote.

At first, the donors used to give in kind. For disbursing the salary in cash, however, locals hit upon a novel plan - sell chickens and goats, and donate the proceeds for salary disbursement.

Thirty-two years ago, the school got license for primary level. Its reputation has led it to be converted to a secondary school, said parents and guardians of students.

Principal Megh Prasad Chaulagain said more than 700 students study here.

The school has no other resources for paying teachers’ salary or meeting other expenses. It relies on the donation from locals. The people are somehow managing the required amount by selling local products like ginger, rice, wild grass along with chickens and goats, said Lal Bahadur Basnyat, school management committee member.

Meanwhile, 20 secondary and 28 primary level schools including Bhagwati secondary school are being run with private grants throughout the district.