Moving Into New Sama Boarding School

Since the completion of the basic school structure for the Sama Boarding School, the villagers had been the biggest winners so far...

Since April 2010, 82 students had moved from the old Gauri Shankar school to the new school compound. At the same time, an assistant cook had been hired to assist the main cook in preparing free meals to the students during mealtimes. As some children are staying in the school, an aya (babysitter) had been employed to take care of them.

Another new appointment is a new English teacher who had joined the team of academic staff since June 2010. Currently, there are 2 teachers who teach Tibetan (the native language of the region) and another 6 teachers who teach the rest of the subjects, such as English, Mathematics, Nepali, Social History and Science.

For 7 of the students, for the first time in the village history, they have begun their studies in the 6th grade (equivalent to secondary/high school). Previously, the village school can only provide basic education up to the 5th grade for the students. An education above the 5th grade will have to be pursued in the capital city of Kathmandu. Because Kathmandu is so far and to study there is exorbitant, and furthermore since many parents do not see a need to give their children a higher education, many students stopped schooling after that. Hence, this is an excellent move that the school provides a more viable option for students to continue their higher education closer to home.

Apart for these children, the school is also a venue for trainings to be conducted to the other villagers. For instance, there were nurses who came to the village to impart some basic healthcare knowledge to the village women community.

Although the basic structure for the school have been up and lessons have been conducted at this new compound, there is always room for improvement. The next phase will tentatively start in September 2010 and finish in November 2010 before the freezing winter comes. The works will include fixing up the wiring for electricity (approx. 1 km from the village to the school), channeling water supply from the village to the school (approx. 2 km from the village to the school), building a kitchen and applying ply on the walls.

Further plans for the school are to:

- install desks and chairs in the classrooms

- install mattresses, blankets, pillows for the dormitory

- set up new classrooms for higher grades students

- set up a library

- build a sport ground / court

- start a new class in village history

Top, 2nd from top and 2nd from bottom: Lesson and morning prayers outside the classroom

Bottom: Lesson conducted in the classroom