Trinagar Secondary School, located in Alan Chowk, the heart of Dhangadhi, is not just an educational institution, but also a shining example of how community education can transform possibilities. Established in 2033 BS, the school has faced many ups and downs in the nearly five decades since its establishment.

Limited resources, lack of infrastructure, and a weak perception of community schools persisted. But amidst these challenges, Trinagar succeeded in establishing itself as an exemplary community school not only in Kailali but also in the Far West.

31 years after its establishment, the school started classes 11 and 12 in 2064. At that time, approval from the higher secondary school was required to run Plus Two. At a time when private schools were gaining dominance, running Plus Two by a community school was a challenging task in itself. But Trinagar accepted that challenge and opened the door to higher education.

By 2075, only 500 students were studying in Trinagar. But now that situation has completely changed. Currently, more than 2,300 students are studying in the school. Of these, nearly 800 students are only in Plus Two level. Locals say that such a large number of students in Plus Two level in community schools is commendable. This shows the growing trust of parents and students in Trinagar.

Just a few years ago, Trinagar had to launch an admission campaign to find students after the number of students decreased. Now that situation has completely changed. Now Trinagar does not have to launch an admission campaign to find students. Instead, students from all nine districts of the Far West come to Dhangadhi looking for Trinagar.

In some cases, the school's principal Bhupal Singh Khadka says that he has had to stop admissions due to the increase in the number of students. 'We do not keep more than 40 students in a classroom.' Due to the limited number of classrooms, we have had to turn away students who came to enroll,' he says.

The increase in the number of students is not only numerical, but also the improvement in the quality of education has made Trinagar different. Due to its consistently good results in board exams, emphasis on extracurricular activities and a disciplined academic environment, the school has received a 12-room building grant under the federal budget. Under which the construction of the building has started and is in the process of completion.

The school does not seem to have compromised on the quality of education despite the limited physical infrastructure. With the increase in student pressure, the school management has prioritized quality improvement. The goal is to qualitatively increase the number of students who have achieved three GPAs. Trinagar Principal Khadka says that community schools have become more cautious after the Class 8 examination was conducted at the city level.

‘The results of Class 8 show how strong the foundation of the school is,’ he says, ‘That is why now not only Trinagar, but many community schools like Trinagar are working on improving their results.’

Trinagar’s academic progress is also confirmed by the results of Class 12. Sunil Bhatta, a student of this school, won a prize of 25 thousand rupees by securing first place in Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City in the Class 12 results of 081 BS. A year later, in 2082 BS, Sandesh Kathayat, a commerce student studying in Trinagar, topped the Sudurpaschim Province. These examples show that Trinagar's investment in educational quality is moving in the right direction.

Principal Khadka says that more than 40 students have passed the Class 12 results this year with a GPA of 3. According to him, more than 500 students have been passing the Plus Two level with grade increase every year.

In community schools, the problem of low number of students from Classes 1 to 5 is often seen. But in Trinagar, more than 250 students are studying from Classes 1 to 5. However, the number of students at the basic level is less compared to Classes 9, 10 and 11-12. Principal Khadka says that the school is formulating a strategy to improve this in the coming days.

Emphasis on extracurricular activities

In Trinagar, special emphasis is placed on sports, intellectual and cultural programs along with studies. To emphasize extracurricular activities, all students have been divided into four houses. Extracurricular activities are conducted on two Fridays of the month and regular classes on two Fridays.

All games included in the municipal running shield are played in the school. According to Principal Khadka, limiting students to only studies limits them to theoretical knowledge. ‘Students are not complete without practical knowledge,’ says Khadka. ‘As important as studies are for students, practical knowledge is more necessary.’

That is why Trinagar has given equal importance to practical learning. As much as the principal, management committee and teachers have a hand in making Trinagar a successful institution as a community school, the contribution of students, parents and the community is also the same. ‘The principal alone cannot make the school successful, all parties must be equally active,’ says Principal Khadka.

The current chairman of the Trinagar School Management Committee is Surendra Bahadur Chand, former campus head of Kailali Multiple Campus. The arrival of Chand, who has been active in the education sector for 39 years, has added new energy to the school. There has been a positive impact on school management, academic quality and extracurricular activities. Chairman Chand says that everything from the physical infrastructure to the overall development of the school is possible due to teamwork.

‘Teamwork plays a big role behind the success of any institution,’ he said, ‘Collective efforts are the main reason why Trinagar has achieved this success in a few years.’ According to him, community support is also very important for the success of the school. However, he admits that there is still a need for educational and managerial improvements.