Students at Janapriya Secondary School Focus on Agricultural Production Through 'Study and Earn' Program

Hetauda. Students at Janapriya Secondary School in Hetauda-16, Makwanpur, are currently focused on agricultural production. Through the 'Study and Earn' program operated by Janapriya Secondary School in Hetauda-16, with the objective of 'connecting education with skills, skills with production, and production with the market,' students are actively engaged in farming activities.

The program run by the school is proving effective, and through it, students are becoming self-reliant by engaging in commercial agriculture and animal husbandry alongside their studies. The hustle and bustle of students on the school premises is no longer confined to classrooms but has extended to the cattle sheds and fields.

Some students are seen feeding goats in the shed, while others are busy weeding and tending to vegetables like beans, coriander, bitter gourd, and okra in the fields. According to Dipesh Kaper, a Grade 11 student who came from Sarlahi to study, his educational expenses are managed through this school program.

"I don't have to ask my family for money for my studies now. I feel hopeful about the future as I am learning skills while earning income," he said. "We have planted some vegetables on the school's land. We work there while studying and learning. We are able to apply what we have learned. The fields have become like a laboratory."

Sahara Giri, a Grade 10 student, also stated that she is able to be self-reliant during her student life. She mentioned that they, who did not know farm work while at home, have received practical education about the agricultural profession and production. Her view is that her expenses, along with education and skills, are being covered through the school's program.

Sunil Gautam, Head of the Communication Department at the school, stated that approximately 300 students studying in the technical stream (Grades 9-12) and CTEVT are directly participating in this campaign, as the school imparts technical education in agriculture. He mentioned that the school has separate hostel arrangements for students studying there from 31 districts, ranging from Madhesh Province to Kalikot in the Far West. According to him, the school itself provides the necessary seeds, capital, and infrastructure for agricultural work. After the produce is sold, the investment is returned to the school, and the remaining profit is divided and kept by the students themselves.

He stated that the school has recently sold over 15 quintals of potatoes and more than one thousand broiler chickens. He added that the income generated from this program has enabled many students to pay their own school fees.

The school principal, Bhupendra Chaulagain, said that the implementation has been facilitated because government bodies have also supported the school's efforts. According to him, the Bagmati Provincial Government has allocated a budget of 4 lakh rupees in the current fiscal year for the construction of a 'Mushroom Seed Production Center.' He mentioned that while they previously had to buy seeds from outside, the school is now preparing to produce its own seeds. Furthermore, Principal Chaulagain stated that there are plans to construct ponds for fish farming in the future.

He mentioned that the items produced by the school are currently consumed locally and among teachers and students. However, he noted that as production volume increases, market management is becoming a challenge, and he suggested that the school should adopt necessary policies for alternative market management and branding at the governmental level.

"We have tried to teach students life-oriented skills instead of limiting them only to books. Janapriya Secondary School is making an effort to make Nepal's education system practical and production-oriented," he said.