Income from school farming goes to student welfare fund
There is a common understanding that school is a place where you enter the classroom after the bell rings and leave with your books and copies as soon as the bell rings. The two schools in Chandrakot rural municipality have different practices. Students there enter the classroom with books and copies, return home in the evening, and also do agricultural work.
Students of Sharda Secondary School in Chandrakot-1 Sarang and Gwagha Secondary School of Ward No. 5 are cultivating squash, garlic, mushrooms, beans, bodi and Akbare chillies. Those schools are not technically oriented. 80 students from class 8 to 12 in Sharada Mavi and 100 students of Gwagha Mavi are involved in agriculture.
Sharda Mavi has grown Akbare chillies, garlic and mushrooms on 1 ropani land. Principal Bishnu Prasad Subedi said that the empty land of the school was put to use by involving the students. "We have brought retention of skills along with learning," he said, "this has added enthusiasm to the students." Prizes are also awarded to the students from it. Sharda Mavi sold 6 quintals of Akbare chillies and 1.5 quintals of garlic last year. Sarada Mavive has also provided saplings to the students of classes 8 to 12 to plant at home. It is the responsibility of the students to grow and grow those plants.
Vibhuti Sapkota, a class 8 student at Sarada High School, said she was happy to learn skills other than studies at school. "Working in groups at school is also a good opportunity for us," she said. Shanti Gautam, who studies in class 11 in the same school, said that she is able to combine learning with skills in school. Another student, Roshan Sripali, said that because of the agricultural work he did in school, he started wanting to do commercial farming.
Gwagha has grown chillies, beans, bodi and ginger on 2 acres of land. "Focusing only on books is a burden on the students," said Principal Prakash Thapa, "We are moving towards farming by looking at learning, convenience and income." He says that the skills of the school have inspired the students to do commercial farming at home as well.
Krishna Bahadur, the father of Surlabh Karki, who is studying class 10 at Gwagha High School, said that he was impressed by his son's interest in agriculture. "After starting agriculture in school, my son has been encouraged in farming," he said, and now he is helping in the cultivation of chibi, mushroom, Akbare chilli, onion, tomato and seasonal vegetables at home. Yuvraj KC, Chairman of Chandrakot Village, informed that the school and students have been encouraged by the municipality in practical knowledge.
