Dhulikhel, Mar. 29 :His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev today unveiled a plaque and inaugurated the new building of Sanjiwani Higher Secondary School at Dhulikhel, headquarters of Kabhrepalanchok district on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the school.
Her Majesty the Queen was also present on the occasion.
His Majesty the King gave away letters of appreciation to various persons providing donations to the school, former school headmasters Ratna Das Baidya, Purna Man Basnet and Durga Prasad Shastri, Royal Danish Ambassador to Nepal Lars Horman, first secretary at the Canadian Embassy Ms Carla Hogan Rufelds, president of the German-Nepal Help Association Andreas Falk, country director of Adra Nepal Glenn St. Clair and a representative of the German Embassy.
Their Majesties inspected the newly built science building and laboratory for ten plus two classes.
Their Majesties, upon arrival at the function venue, were welcomed by Panchakanyas. Former headmaster of the school Durga Prasad Shastri offered Their Majesties programme booklets while teacher Madhav Prasad Acharya offered golden jubilee souvenir publications.
Minister for Education Amod Prasad Upadhyaya, speaking at the function, said that guardians should be apprised of the standard of education at schools run with government resources and those in the private sector.
Stating that half the population of the country is in the dark due to illiteracy, he said the Nepali Congress government had made secondary education free.
While 14 per cent of the money is spent on education, a target has been set to raise this to 17 percent in the current Ninth Plan, he said adding that the government was actively reviewing the present system to provide quality education.
Likewise, chairman of the golden jubilee celebration main committee and Dhulikhel Mayor Bel Prasad Shrestha said that instead of expecting something from society people should give something to society, and that the residents of Dhulikhel were working hard to make that municipality into a model one in South Asia.
School headmaster Amarnath Yogol presented the progress report of the school.
The school, founded in 2006 B.S. as the English middle school, was upgraded into a high school in 2014 B.S.. His Majesty’s Government declared it a model school in 2034 B.S. as it had carried out various successful activities.
The school began providing higher secondary education in management since 2049 B.S. and now runs 10+2 classes in science also. The school has been taking part in the sent-up examinations since 2015 B.S.
The modern science building for 10+2 classes was completed at a cost of Rs. 4,869,000/ with cooperation from His Majesty’s Government, Dhulikhel municipality, the Town Development Trust and the Nepal-German Cooperation Agency.
A statue of Saraswati, the goddess of learning, has been installed in the school premises at a cost of Rs. 275,000 with financial assistance provided by the residents of Dhulikhel.
A project aimed at enhancing the standard of education at the school has also been set up with the joint cooperation of alumni and the Embassy of Canada. The Canadian Embassy provided Rs. 1,832,000/ for the project while 1,800,000/ was collected from alumni and from the school.
A revolving fund of Rs. 650,000/ has also been set up with cooperation provided by Dhulikhel municipality and an 11-room hostel spread over 16 ropani of land constructed with the cooperation of local people and the Indian Embassy.
Also present at the function were Minister of State for Education Dilendra Prasad Badu, Minister of State for Land Reform and Management Gopal Rai, MPs Shiva Prasad Humagain and Rajendra Kharel, DDC chairman Krishna Prasad Sapkota and mayors of various municipalities.