Many community schools in the country are in a state of existential crisis. There are classrooms, there are teachers, but there are no students. Some schools are on the list of mergers, some are on the verge of closure.

However, amidst this depressing national picture, two community schools in Biratnagar—Adarsh ​​Secondary School and Pokhariya Secondary School—have become examples that are questioning the established misconception that public education is weak.

The stories of these two schools begin at different times. However, the destination of both is the same—proof that with faith, vision, and community collaboration, even a community school is no less than a boarding school.

Looking at the grand school complex spread across Biratnagar Metropolitan City-7, the capital of Koshi Province, one would hardly guess—it began with a political exile, a hut, and a few dozen children. After rebelling against the Rana ruler Chandrashamsher, Krishna Prasad Koirala, who was exiled to India in 1976, reached Saharsa, Bihar, with his family. He transformed that difficult time of exile, not into despair, but into education.

That hut was the foundation of today's Adarsh ​​Secondary School. ‘This school did not start with a building, but with an idea,’ says Santosh Pokharel, the school’s principal. ‘That is why, even during serious crises, this school continued to stand like a saint.’

Over time, Adarsh ​​School became the educational center of Biratnagar. Former prime ministers Girija Prasad Koirala and Manmohan Adhikari are alumni of this school. Although it was formally inaugurated in 1996 under the name ‘Shri 3 Juddha High School’, it reverted to the name ‘Adarsh’ after the democratic change of 2007.

But the changes after 2046 also affected Adarsh. There was a flood of private schools. Wealthy families switched to boarding schools. Only children from laborers and poor families remained at Adarsh. 

At one time, the number of students dropped to 200. Despite the grand building, the classrooms were empty. Even the donors were disappointed. ‘At that time, many people thought that Adarsh’s future was over,’ says Vikas Parajuli, chairman of the school management committee, ‘but the school had a history, that history did not let us lose.’

2072 was a turning point for Adarsh. To compete with private schools, the school started English medium from grade 1. Initially, it had to face distrust, sarcasm and criticism. Consistently high GPA in SEE, district top and a flood of students leaving boarding. Once known as ‘the poor’s school’, Adarsh ​​now receives calls from ministers and influential people seeking admission.

‘We taught not only English medium, but also self-confidence,’ says Principal Pokharel, ‘everything changed when parents started understanding that.’ Adarsh ​​School is not successful only because of English medium. There is another reason too. An inclusive public education model. There are both English and Nepali mediums. There is technical education.

There are speech therapists and disabled-friendly buses for students with disabilities. About 112 teachers are working from government, relief and private sources. There are 15 employees and more than 3,600 students. Their children also study here.

Last year, Adarsh ​​Community School brought excellent results in SEE in Koshi. 299 students passed with a good GPA. This year, more than 300 are preparing for SEE. 'This time too, our goal is to repeat last year's success,' adds Principal Pokharel.

The school is spread over about 1 bigha 17 katta of land. 18 bigha of land has been leased in Dhanpal Rural Municipality of Morang. There are more than 80 smart classes here. Another 12-room building is under construction. The story of Pokhariya Secondary School in Biratnagar-1 was also similar to Adarsh's at one time.

In 2016, Pokhariya School was born in a narrow area with the initiative of local parents Shankar Prasad Gautam, Khuwlal Chaudhary, Dilli Prasad Gyawali and others. Now this school has made a name for itself as a famous educational institution in the country.  

Initially established as a primary school, this school became a lower secondary school after 2030. After the multi-party system, secondary school was approved in 2051. At that time, more than 900 schools across the country had received secondary school approval. In 2066 BS, 10 plus 2 was also started. The school was running well. There were enough students. However, suddenly, students started dropping out of school and enrolling in boarding schools.

By 2067/68 BS, the number of students had dropped to 350. Talks of merging schools began. That is where Pokhariya's rebirth began. Khemraj Bhattarai, who became the principal in 2068 BS, decided not to save Pokhariya, but to change it. After Bhattarai made the English medium a weapon, students started dropping out of boarding schools again.

'I thought that the only way to attract students was English medium,' Bhattarai recalls, 'After starting English medium in 2070, it became difficult to hold students.' Within 10 years, Pokhariya was converted to a fully English medium. Pokhariya suddenly became known nationwide after 16 out of 42 students secured distinctions in the 2071 SLC. The school made the entrance exam mandatory from that year. ‘The results changed the perception of all parents,’ says parent Rajan Dahal, ‘This is the reason why Pokhariya is the choice today.’

Today, Pokhariya Secondary School has more than 3,700 students from Montessori to Grade 12. The government posts cannot support this number. Therefore, the school has 126 teachers/staff. Most of them are from private sources.

That is, teachers get their salaries through the voluntary support of parents. The pass rate in Grade 8 is 100 percent excellent. The result of Grade 12 has increased from 73 to 92 percent. The SEE result is also almost 100 percent. Last year, when 462 students took the exam, only 5 students got a grade increase. 

The school, which had only 15 rooms until 2070, has more than 90 classrooms. That too is a smart classroom. A separate building has been rented for students up to grade 3. Two new buildings, 12 and 14 rooms, are under construction on the land rented for 99 years. There is a library. There is a computer and a science laboratory. 

The journey of both Adarsh ​​and Pokhariya schools is different. However, the conclusion is the same. Today, Adarsh ​​Vidyalaya has reached smart classrooms from a hut. Pokhariya Secondary School has become a model school from the list of mergers. These two schools have proven that quality education is not a hostage to private ownership. If the leadership is clear, teachers are committed and parents are involved, community schools can also become schools of choice.