Bajura, December 10

The number of students in community schools has increased in Bajura due to child-friendly teaching-learning environment.

The number of students has increased after many students quit private schools to join community schools seeking homely environment and better teaching- learning activities.

Head teacher at Kailashmandu-based Noteshwori Lower Secondary School, Prem Padhya, said many kids had quit private schools and enrolled in his school after the school started early childhood classes.

“Many students have left well-facilitated private schools in Bajura, Dhangadi and Kathmandu, and gotten their admission in our school in two years,” he added.

Local guardians said they had shifted their wards from Kathmandu-based private schools to the community schools in Bajura. They said the community schools in the district had managed a good learning environment and expressed hope that their children would learn better.

Meanwhile, resource person at District Education Office, Bajura, Man Bir Khati, said the students’ dropout rate, irregularity and absenteeism, among others, had decreased after local community schools started running early childhood classes.

“Severe punishment should be avoided in schools. Students learn when taught with love and affection,” he said. Khati added more students were attracted to community schools after the schools adopted new teaching-learning methods.

District Education Office, Bajura in collaboration with UNICEF, World Education and Seto Gurans Bal Bikash had started early childhood classes in the local community schools with the aim of making teaching learning activities more effective.

Programme Manager at Seto Gurans, Debu Khati, said early childhood classes were running in 96 community schools of 12 VDCs in Bajura. “The number of girl students has also increased in community schools,” she added.