Kathmandu, April 26

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli handed over the newly reconstructed Sanjiwani Secondary School in Dhulikhel to the community amidst a ceremony on Wednesday.

The Asian Development Bank is supporting the reconstruction of 154 such schools badly damaged by the 2015 earthquake, under the Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project. “A better reconstruction process can strengthen a country’s resilience to natural disasters. Reconstruction offered us an opportunity to build back better and all the schools reconstructed after the quakes with ADB support follow better standards, building norms and amenities,” said ADB Country Director for Nepal Mukhtor Khamudkhanov.

“The schools are not only safe and quake-resistant, but also have better facilities. A safe and nurturing learning environment goes a long way in helping children develop their full potential,” he added.

Sanjiwani Secondary School is one of the nine model schools reconstructed under the project. Besides 32 new classrooms, the school has a 12-room hostel for out-of-town students. To enhance science education, the school has been provided with equipment for ICT and science laboratory. The model school concept is a new initiative under the government’s School Sector Development Programme.