Bamboo College in Nepal

The construction of the first Bamboo College was completed in the spring of 2012. The school is located in an open environment where there are very few houses nearby. It has 56 classrooms that can eventually accommodate more than 2,500 students. The school courtyard is also very spacious and the students have space to play or conduct the daily assembly before the classes begin.

The first group of students has been enrolled for the school year 15 April 2012 to 14 April 2013. The school is currently offering classes from kindergarten to grade 7. Eventually classes will to grade 10, as the students graduate from the lower grades. As of fall 2012, enrollment is at 1,086, 564 boys and 522 girls (48 %).

In Nepal, the education of girls is generally considered to be of little importance. In general girls are made to stay home and help their mothers do domestic work. One of the objectives of the Bamboo School Project is to make education available to these girls. To increase the number of the girls in the school, school staff talks to the parents explaining how important education is for them and how it will be beneficial for their communities.

The school currently offers English and Nepali literature, math & science, social studies, health and population, and other general subjects.

A group assembly is held every day for half an hour before class gets started. This is one of the very positive aspects of the bamboo schools where ethical practice is part of the curriculum. This moral education helps the children to become good citizens. It also influences the family members and finally directly or indirectly impart in all over the nation’s population.

Currently 28 energetic young teachers are teaching at the school (6 men, and 22 women). The process for hiring teachers is very interesting. The applicant teacher teaches a class as a trial. The selection committee discusses the performance and qualities of he teacher with the children as part of the hiring process. The children’s opinion is a major consideration in the final decision.

Read more about the bamboo schools and on the reports section of this website.