International Day of Education 2026: Where Classrooms Become Gateways to Opportunity
As we mark International Day of Education, we reflect on the vital importance of learning for the communities we serve and the significant hurdles that remain.
While the Nepali government continues its work to make free and compulsory basic education a reality for every child, the path to the classroom is often blocked by formidable challenges.
In the remote regions where we work, the “school run” goes far beyond hopping in the car. In remote locations, children may walk for up to two hours to reach school, along steep and narrow mountain tracks which become treacherous in the monsoon season. Access to education is also hampered by poor infrastructure, poverty and gender inequality.
Why focus on rebuilding schools in Nepal?
For years, students in rural schools have studied in overcrowded classrooms with leaking roofs, crumbling walls, and broken furniture. Regular attendance drops during the rainy season, and many girls miss school entirely due to the limited sanitation facilities.
In response to these challenges, the Gurkha Welfare Trust has been working steadily to improve learning environments by building and upgrading schools in Nepal’s most remote communities.
Since its establishment, GWT has constructed and refurbished 3,188 school projects, with almost a million students benefiting from safer classrooms, improved sanitation, and more inclusive learning spaces.
Last year’s Major School Projects
Shree Saraswati Secondary School, Khotang:
For decades, children at Shree Saraswati studied in dilapidated classrooms, vulnerable to weather and unsafe for learning. Despite the dedication of teachers and parents, the learning environment was not fit for purpose.
When the doors of Shree Saraswati Secondary School opened after the completion of its new school building, the change was more than physical. It marked a turning point for students, parents, teachers, and the entire community.
The Chair of the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) talked about the impact:
“We have seen this school, and my children also studied here. The infrastructure was bad earlier. Now my grandchildren are studying here as well. It is wonderful to see this change. Children can now learn in much better-furnished classrooms with many additional facilities, compared to the cracked mud and stone buildings of the past. Thank you, GWT, for choosing our school for this major project. Our grandchildren’s future is bright.”
Wana Higher Secondary School, Panchkhapan:
At Wana Higher Secondary School in Panchkhapan, new facilities have created a safe, inclusive, and student-friendly learning environment for nearly 500 students. The school now has a reliable water supply, new toilet building with accessible toilets, and a dedicated menstrual hygiene management space which improves school attendance for female students.
By transforming cracked mud walls into earthquake-resilient classrooms and replacing broken desks with safe, well equipped spaces, we are doing more than just improving infrastructure—we are creating a better future for children in Nepal. As we celebrate International Day of Education 2026, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure that geography and circumstance never dictate a child’s potential.