International Day of Education 2025 – Bridging the Gap
Education is a basic human right and an essential building block for every child to reach their full potential, and for societies and economies to grow and flourish.
In a world dominated by technology, many schools in Nepal still lack essential resources like libraries, computer labs and even safe classrooms. This year’s International Day of Education reminds us how important it is to help bridge the gap in opportunity between rural and urban education.
Despite progress, Nepal still faces significant obstacles in the education sector. These include low literacy rates, high dropout rates particularly in rural and remote areas, and the quality of education at all levels. Education delivery also faces geographical challenges including access to schools in mountainous regions and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.
To address all these challenges, we are working with the Nepal Government to provide classrooms and modern buildings, ensuring that students have access to a conducive learning environment. This initiative will help students receive a better education and pursue the careers they aspire to.
Facing the challenges head-on
In 2023 GWT constructed a two-story building for the Shree Sharada Secondary School in Tehrathum. The staff at the school adopted new teaching methodologies, and in the past two years, have seen significant progress in student performance. Some students who had dropped out have returned to the school to continue their education there. Parents are happy and satisfied with the improvements and the school has been recognised as one of the best in the district.
Pooja Acharya, Student at the school comments:
“My name is Pooja Acharya, and I am currently studying in Class 11. My goal is to become an English teacher, though I have a deep love for both English and Nepali subjects. While I enjoy both equally, I have a particular preference for English. I have been studying at this school since Nursery.”
“Before the construction of the new building, we used to experience a lot of noise during class periods. Now, with the new building, we no longer have to deal with the noise from other classrooms. This has made it easier for everyone, and teachers are able to teach more effectively. We now have a library where we can access a variety of books, which has greatly helped us in our studies.
Our previous building had broken windows, and during the rainy season, the rain would disturb our classes. Now, we can study in a peaceful environment without such interruptions.
One of the most significant improvements is the construction of our earthquake-resilient building. We no longer need to fear earthquakes, and this has made us feel safer. We are grateful for the development of our school, and I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to GWT and the donors for their support in constructing the building. Our village is very rural, and having this school has made a tremendous difference.
The improvements to the school have had a big impact on both the students and their future prospects. The quality of education has improved, and the discipline among students has also increased. I am very happy and satisfied with the changes, and I look forward to seeing even more progress in the future.”