More than half a dozen educational institutions in Kathmandu Valley were set on fire, vandalized and stone pelted during the demonstration on August 24.
The educational institutions that were damaged by arson and vandalism during the demonstrations after the movement led by Jen-G have started conducting virtual classes online.
During the demonstration on August 24, more than half a dozen schools and colleges were damaged by arson, vandalism and stone pelting. During the demonstration, Eulens School Khumaltar/Basbari, Global College, Xavier International, Nightingale, Nami School were vandalized and set on fire. Most of them have started conducting classes online. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City also issued a circular for online teaching to the damaged educational institutions. The educational institutions have stated that the details of the damage have been collected and cannot be ascertained.
Medani Lamichhane, the headmaster of Eulens School, said that by conducting online classes, the school is proceeding according to the school's academic calendar. "We have been teaching online for a week," he said, "We have given a holiday from Friday to Dasain." After the school building, classrooms, and school vehicles were destroyed by fire, a parent of Eulens said that after the school called the children to participate in online classes, they did so accordingly. "After the fire broke out in the school where our children were studying, we also went and looked. In the beginning, they have been vandalizing . Later, the guards chased them and poured petrol on them and set them on fire," said the parent, "It seems that a building has been completely damaged. There were 70-80 vehicles. Many of them must have been damaged. Principal Lamichhane said that the complete details of the damage are being collected.
Global College has also said that after the fire in the educational building, students of classes 11 and 12 have started studying online. We are teaching 4,000 students of science and management subjects through virtual means. We will not let it affect the academic calendar," said Principal Ambadatta Joshi. Shreyam Chaulagai, a 19-year-old student studying in class 12, was shot dead by the police during the 23rd Jan-G-led movement and the subsequent demonstration. The school said that it has continued the right of the remaining students to study by organizing a mourning and tribute program for the deceased student. Principal Joshi said that the online classes that were put into practice during the Covid period have been continued. After two days of demonstrations and protests, many students had already started leaving Kathmandu. Online classes have been conducted after two buildings were completely damaged, he said.
school has said that it will continue teaching and learning in the classroom by renovating the building until the end of the festive holiday. According to the academic calendar, classes will be held only after Chhath. Now we are cleaning the damaged building. We repair and maintain day and night. We will return to the previous situation and start teaching from the classroom," he said. The school has informed that teaching will start in the classroom from 11th of October.
Xavier International, which was vandalized, has also said that after the festival, classes will be conducted from classrooms after the festival. Director Lok Bahadur Bhandari said that reconstruction has been started to continue the education of about 3 thousand students. Important documents of smart board, science lab, computer lab, canteen, office were destroyed. Windows, doors, bathrooms, and 6 school buses were vandalized,' he said, 'some materials were stolen and looted. "We are preparing for teaching from the classroom as soon as possible," he said.
DK Dhungana, the former president of Pabson, said that there was no arson or vandalism in educational institutions outside Kathmandu Valley. "Damaged schools have also started classes online," he said, "they are getting up after repairs."
