Although culturally and naturally rich, Nepal is nevertheless one of the world's poorest and least-developed countries where, even though the educational system has made a great deal of progress in a very short time, there is still much to be done. Primary education is technically free, yet government schools are often inadequate, overcrowded and seriously under-funded, especially in rural areas. Many schools in remote areas are very basic and sometimes unsafe, often without blackboards and with very little furniture. In rural areas, students usually have to walk for several hours each day to attend school.

The inability of students to attend school is affected by many factors, including poor weather, overcrowded classrooms and family situations that keep older children at home. In particular, it is widely known that girls have less access to education than boys, with many girls not being allowed to go to school at all, and with those that do attend often leaving school before the age of 12, to care for younger siblings or work on the family farm. Enrolment of girls is less than 35% in secondary schools.

Badel village is in Khotang, south east of Mt. Everest. It is a very remote settlement, far from the most basic facilities, and situated away from any commonly used trail. Although the village has a primary school with tuition up to Class 7 (age 12-13 or thereabouts), secondary education is currently only offered in a far-off village, which entails a walk of over two hours each way, with classes beginning at 6.0 a.m. to avoid adverse weather conditions at some times of the year. The difficulties of getting to and from school, as well as the amounts of time away from essential household chores, mean that many children do not continue their secondary education. Badel needs a secondary school which would also offer education to other villages nearby, where there are about 256 households with around 400 children, in addition to the approximately 250+ children in Badel itself. Ideally, such a school could also possibly offer vocational training in forestry, sustainable farming, fish farming, nettle cloth weaving, bamboo products and other areas of expertise which would help with the sustainable development of the area.

Unfortunately, in Nepal the government does not suggest that a certain place needs a school or another class – it is up to individual villages to ask for such facilities.  Even if there are many needy children the government will not act of its own volition. The community itself has to support the school by asking permission to add classes as the need arises. Such permission is bogged down with conditions such as the requirement that the community provides the salary for a temporary teacher at the rate of £120 per month (£1440 per year, which is a fortune for poor people)

Each year village people have to come up with sufficient money to support a teacher for one year and deposit funds for the school running costs if they want another class – then the government may tell them to go ahead. Personal possessions and land have been used as collateral, which is a very risky measure and puts families in a precarious position. Making the current teacher(s) permanent members of staff would release these pledges and relieve a lot of anxiety and heartache from many philanthropic Badel residents. If fund-raising could bring in sufficient money, it would be possible for those residents to redeem what are probably their only valuable possessions.

It is hoped to raise funds to pay a Class 8 teacher, which sum could be reclaimed later if all goes well. If infrastructure were provided, as well as an additional £875.00 deposit needed for permission, the government might give the go-ahead! Then, if the children in Class 8 wish to continue at school, it would be necessary to go through the same rigmarole for Class 9, at which stage the government might agree to make the Class 8 teacher permanent, paying his/her salary from that point. If the post were not made permanent, it would be necessary for the community to continue paying the temporary teacher, and the chances of supporting a Class 9 teacher would be remote.

A feasibility study was carried out in February 2008, at which time discussions took place with the Villagers/community and School Management Committee as to how the village community and supporters/fundraisers could work together to build a secondary school. Financial calculations will be presented within the project document, but at a rough guess, it would seem that around £5000 a year, for three years, plus local contributions of labour and materials, should provide a basic secondary school.

Please click here to download Project Initiation Document (PID) details

New Community Secondary School Project Plan (PDF version)or

New Community Secondary School Project Plan (MS Word version)