Khaja – The Aandhimul Project

February 16, 2016February 16, 2016

Parents meeting at school

There was a parent meeting on 15 February at school. All the school management committee members, all the teacher staffs, all the parent teacher association members and 50 parents were present at meeting. Most of the parents who attended were the mothers/carers. They had a good discussion on each agenda.

Headteacher Rameshwor presented the agenda to be discussed. The parent meeting endorsed the following agendas:

the school anniversary will be organised on 3 March.
to fix the electricity at school.
to bring a computer to the school and appoint a computer teacher.
to collect NRP 100 from each parent for the salary of the computer teacher.
to nominate Banu Bhujel from Pari Gaon in place of Dil Maya Bhujel and Ram Bahadur Bhujel as new members of the School Management Committee.
to appoint Ram Maya bhujel ( Kumar’s (the caretaker) wife ) for the post of litter officer in place of Ran Bahadur Bhujel.
to start student admission champion immediately after yearly exam result.

After the parent meeting Bikram and the school held a separate staff meeting. All the project staff expressed their willingness to continue their job for next school year. They hope that there will be around 100 children studying in the school by the new session. Therefore they will need more bowls, glasses and spoons for the school lunch (khaja). They will also need some more learning materials and educational/fun games.

In light of this increase the project will need to increase the money provided for both khaja and school materials, possibly as much as 50% to what it is currently. The project staff are also hoping a reasonable increment in their salary.

Bikram met with Urmila’s (a student being supported by one of our donors) mother, Junki Bhujel, and gave her NRP 400.00 for the month of Magh to support with Urmila’s schooling costs. Until now (this current academic year), Bikram has given Urmila and her family NRp 4000.00.

Pampha and Kamala (project teachers) will join training that is organised by Seto Gurans in Bandipur on 26 and 27 February.

There is an immunisation programme for Rubela, measels and polio to be held on 28 February at Jaldevi Primary School, Kalchok nearby Thumka, for children from 9 months to 5 years. So they will take all the school children there for their immunisations.

It is confirmed that the project will need to contribute NRP 348,914.00 as 70 percent of total cost to construct the new nursery building.

The local government, the Bandipur municipality, have given money to cover for new desks and benches for the new Class 5.

One of the villagers whose house is being rebuilt/repaired, Junkiri Bhujel, is taking medicine regularly to help recover from TB. She also took part in the parent meeting yesterday.

Ram Maya Bhujel (the new Litter Officer) has been made clear about her duty.

January 1, 2016February 15, 2016

Happy New Year!

On 21 December the school published second term results. And the School Management Committee discussed the learning achievement of the students. Class 2 and 3 students are doing good. Some students of class 1 and 4 are weak.

The proposed teachers training was postponed and is rearranged for the 17 and 18 January.

Nepal Orthopaedics Hospital, Kathmandu, is going to organise a 2 day free health camp in Bandipur hospital. Bikram has conveyed this message to the villagers and teachers and requested them to take advantage of this opportunity.

Total cost of nursery building is NRP 498,452.00 school is ready to share NRP 149536.00 and the project will contribute NRP 348,914.00. The School has started to provide a different khaja twice a week.

Bikram has bought some new school material for the school. And below is a photo of Raj Kumar Bhujel’s house.

December 13, 2015February 15, 2016

Thank you Highgate Primary School, Adelaide

With great thanks to Angela’s local primary school in Adelaide, Australia – Highgate Primary School – which has been a long term supporter of the Aandhimul school. The children from year 4 have just raised $300AUD – approximately 22,000NRp. It has decided that this money will go towards improving the Khaja (school lunch) for the ever increasing student numbers, and also to help towards new stationary and classroom equipment.

December 3, 2015February 15, 2016

School visit and update on rebuilding work

Bikram visited the school and village yesterday. All the teachers were present and there were the following students present in school:
Nursery : 17
Class 1 : 12
Class 2 : 11
Class 3 : 9
Class 4 : 17
TOTAL : 66 students

On that day teacher Nirmal (new government teacher) and Sarita took class 3 and 4 students to collect litter of the public place nearby the school during break time. The Headteacher and Bikram discussed about the upcoming half yearly exam. Except compulsory Nepali and social studies, students have to attend exam in English medium. This is the resource centre level exam. The topic of discussion was to prepare students for the exam.

The students seem happy in school. When Bikram reached the school on this visit he saw Sarita was drawing a picture on the white board in Class 2, she was teaching art.

Bikram mentioned that if we give a different khaja it will increase the cost. We hope to find some extra funds to do this.

Kamal’s house rebuilding work is almost finish. Only fixing doors and windows have been left. Sita’s house rebuilding work is in progress, you can see it in the photos. Hira is fixing roof and until now Bikram has given Krishna Bhujel NRS 25,000.00, Hira Bhujel NRS 20,000.00, Kamal Bhujel NRS 20,000.00 and Sita Bhujel 15,000.00.

Teacher training will be run by the Rotary Club of West Patan on December 29 and 30. Our teachers will be attending.

November 23, 2015February 15, 2016

Celebration time is over and back to school!

school girls who took part in bhailo

After the celebrations of Deshain and Tihar daily life has returned to the community. Though that did not stop the community to continue to enjoy the festive period. From November 11 to 17 school staffs, students and villagers played Bhailo (a kind of culture played in Tihar) to collect fund to build Nursery building. They had organised khaja (lunch) program for those people who took part in Bhailo program. Before the khaja Bikram, our project manager, held a meeting amongst the teachers and School Management Committee (SMC). They had collected a good sum of money. They also decided to use this money towards the new nursery building. They are now able to contribute 30 percent of the cost.

From the new academic session 2072, which means from 14 April 2015, Bikram has developed a separate attendance sheet for our project staff. They do their attendance on our project attendance sheet and the school attendance register too. The teachers are regular on their duty. If they need leave they inform Bikram one day in advance unless suddenly ill or other emergency. And, except public holiday, they get one day leave in a month. Bikram mentions that he finds them regular in attendance and punctual.

To measure students learning achievement, Bikram uses two types of assessment that are:
a) Pre and post reading assessment (Early grade reading assessment)
b) Early grade Maths assessment.

These two assessments are prepared by World Education, an INGO, which is used throughout the schools of Nepal. Bikram received those assessment models from Chij Kumak Shrestha who on occasion comes to train in Bandipur, our project teachers always joining.

Bikram applied for those assessments in beginning of then new academic session and discussed with the teachers during the Kathmandu tour, in the presence of 5 school teachers and trainer Ela Piya. Our students achievement is good. According to DEO calender we have conducted first quarterly exam. In this exam their achievement is good. Participating in teacher training, Bikram reports he has found an important change in the teachers’ teaching skills. Firstly they learn to make job chart which make student participatory in learning activities. Secondly making materials and thirdly teaching through play and singing.

Whenever Bikram visits the school he listens to the teachers and headteacher discuss about school life. Sometimes he gives them written assignments too to refresh on what they have learnt in previous teacher training.

Bikram have given the responsibility of preparing khaja to Kamala, and she is doing her duty honestly. The children a getting khaja regularly. Though, due to the Indian blockade there is no cooking gas, so they need to cook the khaja with firewood.

New bamboo chair made by one of the school committee members, Resham.

The Litter Officer, Ran Bahadur Bhujel, is doing his duty well. Sometimes he does his work in Bikram’s presence too. The village is cleaner than past. Sanitation in some areas is still poor. The main route to school is clean.