Kathmandu's Gyanodaya Secondary School, Bafal, and Vishwa Niketan Secondary School, Tripureshwor, always come to the forefront in the list of the best community schools in the country. The success story of these two schools, which have won the trust of parents and students and excelled in quality, is captivating.

These schools were established with the advent of democracy in 2007. These schools, which are considered excellent among community schools, have always proven themselves to be more solid and durable in the competition.

In 2020, a school was being operated by moving from house to house of the Newar community in the Bafal/Old Kalimati area of ​​Kathmandu. Which took the shape of Gyanodaya Vidyalaya in Old Kalimati in 2029. The foundation stone of the primary school was laid under the leadership of local Prem Bahadur Rajthala.

The same school received approval as a proposed secondary school in 2036. Similarly, Vishwa Niketan Secondary School, which was established in New Road in 2003 and transferred to Tripureshwor Judghat in 2009, was in its own rhythm. Assistant Principal Revaratna Bajracharya was working to make Vishwa Niketan excellent.

As soon as the proposed secondary school was established, Bajracharya was appointed as the principal by Gyanodaya. At the end of 2037, Dhananjay Sharma also transferred from Parbat to Gyanodaya. He had already become the principal in Parbat. Parents say that under the strong leadership of Bajracharya and Sharma, Gyanodaya made a special mark.

After Bajracharya, Sharma became the principal from 2050 to 2070. Sharma says that Bajracharya, who was the principal for 14/15 years before him, laid the foundation of educational quality in Gyanodaya. ‘When we came, the number of students in Gyanodaya was low. The school was struggling due to lack of funds,’ says Sharma, ‘Revaratna Bajracharya laid the foundation of quality. But it was not able to yield results. Miraculous improvements began to be seen in the school from 2051/052. All that was the result of the hard work and investment made since 2036/037.’

He believes that hard work and investment should be made from the small class (jag) to improve the quality of education. ‘We put a lot of effort in the small class itself. We started making each class fun. We took the initiative to make children go to school. The school conducted teacher training from its own resources,' he said, 'When students from grades 1-3 who had received good education reached SEE, the results showed a miraculous improvement.' 

He recalled that pre-primary classes were started from the lower grades to improve teaching and learning. At that time, community schools that conducted pre-primary classes were limited. However, Gyanodaya prepared students for learning even before grade 1 with its own resources and plans.

'Gyanodaya started to be counted among the top schools across the country from 2051. It made its brand by passing 100% of its students,' he recalled, 'It was only after that that students started to be admitted, students started leaving private schools.' 

Gyanodaya currently has 4,600 students. There are only 300 in the pre-primary level ECD. According to the Ministry of Education, Gyanodaya is among the 10 schools with the most students in the country. ‘When the students who had strengthened their worldly learning reached SEE, unexpected results began to be seen. Almost 100 percent of the students started passing. This increased the confidence of the parents. The students’ attraction increased,’ said former Principal Sharma. The school had also improved the physical infrastructure by organizing a Mahayagya to collect funds. 

He said that only with the skillful leadership of the principal and the positive support of the parents can a community school achieve success. He added, ‘Only a team of teachers can improve the school. The principal is everything. He is the manager to make the school better. If he plans and works hard, he will lead to success.’ 

He suggested that principals and teachers should not have political bias. He said that if society and parents motivate teachers, they will gain energy. ‘Teachers should be given respect. If that happens, they will work hard,’ he said, ‘If the principal forms a team without bias and political discrimination, the community school will improve.’ 

Sharma retired in 2070. After that, Principal Natikaji Maharjan continued the legacy of enlightenment. Now the school has a female principal. Bishnu Ghimire Rimal is leading the school. There are 160 teachers and staff. Teaching is also done in English medium. Civil engineering, science, management, law, computer, hotel management and other subjects are taught in grades 11-12.

Principal Rimal complained that the school could not be expanded further due to limited land and building. ‘More than two thousand students come for admission. Due to the lack of a building, we could only admit 550,’ she said, ‘We could not teach everyone who wanted to study.’ She said that due to the shortage of classrooms, more than 50 students had to be placed in a single class. Classes are conducted from 6 am to 6 pm. 

Until 2058, Vishwa Niketan Secondary School was like a community school. The number of students had decreased to 900. The number of students, which was 2,300 in 2045/046, was continuously declining. The attraction of students and parents to private schools and the English language of instruction there was increasing. At that time, the school came up with a solution. It would also start teaching in English medium. The former Upper Secondary School (Class 11/12) was becoming an excellent school since 2062/064. At the same time, Vishwa Niketan also improved itself in the SEE results. 

Principal Herambaraj Kandel is at the center of improving the educational quality of the school. Kandel was appointed Principal in 2072. Before that, Kandel was a science teacher in the same school since 2051. After two students became the best among community schools in the SEE of the same year, the school, which was considered excellent, has not had to go back.

The school has been winning medals and awards from the government by breaking one record after another in the results. The school has received the National Education Award three times in 2074, 2075 and 2081. The school received the award after the students achieved the best results in SEE. The school has also been achieving excellent results in class 12. 

The school was established in a private house in New Road on 19 Magh 2003, the day of Saraswati Puja. According to Principal Kandel, under the leadership of local educationist Naraman Shrestha with the help of Ishwari Lal Shrestha and Premlal Shrestha, Vishwa Niketan was shifted to Tripureshwor Judghat. The government recognized the school. 

4,400 students study from classes 1 to 12. There are 1,800 students from ECD to class 10 and 2,600 students in classes 11-12. There are 160 teachers and staff. 62 teachers receive grants from the federal and local governments. The remaining expenses are met from internal sources.

There is intense competition for admission to the school. In the current academic session, 4,000 students took the entrance exam to get admitted to classes 1-10, but only 475 students were admitted. 6,000 students participated in the entrance exam for classes 11-12. Only 1,300 students were admitted. The school, which received regional awards from the former Higher Secondary Education Council in 2062 and 2065, also received medals and awards from the government as an excellent school in 2081. 

A master plan has been implemented for school improvement. Biswo Niketan has been winning national-level sports competitions including the President's Running Shield. Biswo Niketan is also the winner of the 2080 Running Shield and the 2080 Nationwide School Taekwondo Championship.

Although the school has been achieving success one after another, it is challenging to sustain it, says Principal Kandel. 'There are not enough classrooms. We have been teaching with 70/75 students in one room,' he said. '4/5 thousand students take the entrance exam. We can barely take admissions of only 500 to 1,200.'

He complained that the main problem is the lack of land and physical infrastructure. 'There are 2,400 students in classes 11 and 12. The government has provided only 3 posts,' he said, 'we have not been able to become financially strong either. Parents have been demanding to expand the technical side.' Since the school, which is operating on 10 ropanis of land, has been occupying 18 ropanis of empty land in Bagmati Bagar since it became inconvenient to conduct educational activities. But it does not have its own land to expand further. 

Principal Kandel said that the school has progressed by achieving success through the collective efforts of teachers, parents and students. 'The relationship between the school administration, parents, teachers and students should be harmonious,' he said, 'We do not teach by pushing students into the classroom. It seems that life-useful education, latest methods, project work, and teamwork have led to success.'

According to him, responsibilities have been distributed to teachers. Teachers are assigned responsibilities for activities including bus management, cleaning, midday meal arrangements, and morning and evening remedial classes. The school operates on most public holidays except Saturdays. Teachers' children are encouraged to study in the same school. 

Singer Taradevi, singer Premdhwaj Pradhan, educationist Kedarbhakta Mathema, cardiologist Arun Sayami and other famous people are alumni of the school. Mathema, who completed his SLC from Vishwa Niketan in 2015, later became the Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University and the Ambassador to Japan. ‘The school was inside a long hut. When we studied, we could not see a library, lab, or teaching materials. There were no materials for sports,’ Mathema recalled, ‘Children of all, rich and poor, met in the same room. The picture of society was in the classroom.’ 

Management Committee Chairman Gopal Shrestha said that the strong relationship and contact between parents and teachers made it possible to make the school excellent. ‘We have not allowed politics to enter the school. Parents and teachers are committed to school reform,’ he said.