Large buildings all around. Large grounds. Seasonal farming around. This scene is of Mahendranagar Secondary School (General) in Mahendranagar Bazaar. This school, which was in a miserable condition a decade ago, has now become a model for the region.

This school was selected in 2075 BS for the construction of a model school based on the number of students, educational quality, results, and use of technology in teaching. The Education and Human Resource Development Center (ESRDC) selected the best schools under the School Sector Development Plan (SSDP) and started the model program.

Even in 2070 BS, there were around 3/350 students in this school. Although studies were conducted up to grade 12, there was a shortage of teachers' salaries. Currently, the school has 2,906 students from nursery to grade 12.

Teaching is done in English medium from nursery. An entrance exam is conducted for the admission of new students. Only students who pass the entrance exam are being admitted. Devraj Bhatta, the principal of the ordinary school, said, "Three to four hundred new students are added every year." Currently, education is being done in English medium from nursery to grade 10 and in both English and Nepali medium in grades 11 and 12.

The school has been bringing excellent results every year in grade 8, SEE, and grade 12. In SEE, it has also brought 97.90 percent results in 2079, 9.3 percent in 2080 and 97.27 percent in 2081. In class 12, it has brought 51.18 percent results in 2079, 52.38 percent in 2080 and 62 percent in 2081.

‘Because of the good education, I enrolled my children in a government school from boarding school, the education here is better than boarding school,’ said Sangeeta Bohara of Gobariya, Bhimdatta Municipality 15, ‘Both my son and daughter are studying well.’

After the Education and Human Resource Development Center selected Mahendranagar Secondary School to build a model school in 2075, the physical infrastructure of this school and the quality of education have further improved. ‘Each classroom is taught using projectors, we have also installed ten smart boards,’ said Principal Bhatta, ‘We are teaching using information technology.’

A hostel is also in operation for students coming from far away along with the hilly districts. After the center selected this school for the construction of a model school under the School Sector Development Plan (SSDP), it has received a grant of around 7.5 crores over a period of 5 years. 

‘The model school construction program has been completed, we have made many improvements by working hard,’ said Birendra Raj Bista, chairman of the management committee. 

Mahendranagar Secondary School is teaching in English from nursery to grade 10. Classes in science, management, education and law are also being conducted in grades 11 and 12, along with technical courses. Chairman Bista said that the school is also running programs including overseer, agriculture, sub-overseer and 24-month industrial training.

The school has launched the Learn-by-Earn program with the support of the center and the Education Development Directorate Dipayal with the support of the Learn-by-Earn program.