Lamjung, February 5

A Lamjung school that was reduced to rubble by the powerful earthquake three years ago is aspiring to a grand revival as a model school with an impressive new structure being constructed with a whopping Rs 800 million-plus assistance from the Chinese government.

Classes at the Bhairav Secondary School of Mohoriyakot, Rainas Municipality, Lamjung, are being run in temporary shelters made of zinc sheets after the quake damaged its building.

According to school management committee Chairperson Singh Bahadur Thapa, 50 per cent construction of the school building is over. “Once the structure gets ready, we will run technical and vocational programmes as well,” said Thapa, who is also the mayor of Rainas Municipality, adding that the 65-room building will be ready by the end of 2018-19 fiscal.

“With the grand structure, the school aspires to be a model school of the country,” said Principal Rajeshwor Dhakal, adding that classes are running from temporary shelters made of zinc sheets. The school which was established around 60 years ago has over 300 students now.

The under-construction building will spread in more than eight-ropani land and will feature various amenities such as library, laboratory, teacher’s room, canteen, latrines, hostel and playground, besides classrooms. Most of the construction materials, workers and technicians were brought from China.

As per sources, the construction of school building for the Lamjung school is said to be a part of the Chinese government’s plan to develop as many as 10 model schools in Nepal.

Among 10 model schools, two will be built in the mountainous region. Sindhulpalchowk, Brahmachi-based Ratnarajya Secondary School will be the other school to get Chinese assistance for school infrastructure building in the mountainous region.