Community School in Gulmi Establishes Computer Lab with Support from Overseas Donors

Gulmi, February 27: While computer education in most community schools in Gulmi remains limited to theoretical study, a computer laboratory has been established at a school here with the support of foreign donors. A laboratory equipped with computers has been set up at Janasahayog Secondary School located in Bharshe, Ward No. 8 of Satyawati Rural Municipality in the district.

To establish the computer laboratory, NPR 700,000 was collected from locals residing abroad, led by local social worker Naru Budhathoki. Budhathoki informed that 20 computers were purchased with the collected amount to operate the laboratory. "We ran the campaign with the objective of stopping student migration and providing technical education in the village; now, after the lab started operating in the school, the students are also very excited," he said.

The school administration stated that the laboratory was established with the aim of expanding technical education in the school, which currently has only 109 students due to rapid migration.

The school's principal, Lokhari Pandey, mentioned that computers, networking, CCTV installation, and a computer teacher have been arranged with the support of the donors. "Computer education has become very effective in connecting students to practical learning; this has also further encouraged and attracted the students," he said.

The main role in the lab establishment campaign was played by Kul Bahadur Budhathoki, a retired British Army Lieutenant and current resident of Hong Kong. Stating that technology-related education is a current necessity, Budhathoki mentioned that they have provided as much support as possible for the village school. "We supported this by internalizing the belief that quality education is necessary in the village in the current situation, and knowledge of technology is essential for that," he said.

Students participating in the computer class expressed that they are very excited to get to operate computers directly. Binita Nepali, a Grade 6 student learning computers, said she is happy to learn computers in school from an early grade and that it has made her studies much easier.

According to the school administration, students are being involved in practical learning in turns. Bharshe Janasahayog Secondary School is among the oldest schools in the district. Most of the students studying at the school belong to indigenous communities.

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