Kalika Manavgyan: Nepal's Largest Public School & Top Performer

News 16 Feb 2025 111

Kalika Manavgyan Secondary School, located in Butwal, is Nepal's only school among government schools with the highest number of students, and that is Kalika. Currently, 7,750 students are studying here. In Rupandehi, considered a model district for community schools in the country, nearly half a dozen such schools are in leading positions.

Kalika Manavgyan Secondary School in Butwal, Nepal, is the largest public school with excelling in academics & facilities. Explore its unique child-friendly approach, digital profiles, skill-based education, and success story as a model community school in Rupandehi.

Excellent in Results, Not Just Numbers

Kalika Manavgyan Secondary School is not only the largest in terms of student numbers but also the best in the country in terms of annual results. Located in Kalikanagar of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-10, this school offers education from early childhood development to class 12. Here, the number of female students exceeds male students by 576. There are 4,163 female students and 3,587 male students studying. 347 teachers and staff are employed here.

Principal Dinesh Thapa informed that the school achieved national first place in the 2073 SLC examination and national third place in 2074. In 2080, it was declared national first in 16 different indicators, and in 2081, it was declared the best nationwide in class 12. Principal Thapa informed that the Ministry of Education declared it a model school in 2075, recognizing its continued success in achieving excellent results, and the program has been ongoing since then.

Child-Friendly Environment and Holistic Learning

At Kalika, there is a non-punitive (child-friendly) teaching-learning activity. Teacher and employee codes of conduct are developed with the participation of teachers and employees, and student codes of conduct are developed with student participation and leadership. Class observations and in-depth discussions on improvement measures are conducted by subject heads. The school has arranged free education for orphans and poor students. Principal Thapa informed that question paper preparation workshops are conducted in preparation for examinations.

The school has arranged for student evaluation by preparing digital profiles of each student. A complaint box is placed for easy student access, and it is addressed by the in-charge. The school provides training to parents from time to time. Principal Thapa informed that along with regular studies, emphasis is also placed on moral and practical education for students. The school has been providing free scholarships to students who score a GPA above 3.60 in the SEE examination.

Excellent Physical Infrastructure and Facilities

The school is also excellent in terms of physical infrastructure development. It has a total of 5 bigha and 8 kattha of land in Kalikanagar and Ramnagar. Students study in 129 classrooms in 16 building blocks. A total of 27 toilets are arranged for teachers and students, with separate arrangements for boys and girls. 37 orphans and poor children are studying at the school. The school claims to be the first in the country in terms of hostels, providing free education up to class 12 and covering all expenses of the students.

There are 31 sections each in classes 11 and 12. The school has a policy of fixing the number of students in each section from early childhood development onwards. There should be no more than 35 students in early childhood development, 40 in classes 1, 2, and 3, 45 in classes 4 and 5, and 48 in each section of classes 6 and above, according to the school's policy. Principal Dinesh Thapa informed that 3,500 students could not be enrolled in the current academic session due to limited numbers. According to him, the school's annual general expenditure is approximately 300 million (30 crore).

Nityananda Gyawali, Chairman of the School Management Committee, informed that the committee does not interfere in the daily administrative work of the school. "The coordination between the management committee, school administration, and parents has helped to continuously make the school excellent," says Gyawali, "Being continuously in the leading position in the country from Mofasal (outside Kathmandu Valley) has made everyone proud."

He shared that the school has been making itself excellent in terms of physical and financial condition in recent years. He expressed his happiness that the school, which was established in 2018 BS starting education in an open field, has been able to rise to the leading position in the country. "Once upon a time, schools used to teach with chalk markers, dusters, blackboards, and whiteboards, but now there are smart boards," says Gyawali, "Times and circumstances have changed. We have followed the information and technology that is increasing day by day." He believes that if there is continuous dedication and hard work, it will not take long to say that community schools are also excellent. He shared that schools from all over the country come for learning exchange, following the good practices of an excellent school.

Skill-Based Education and Extracurricular Activities

In Shanti Namuna Secondary School, only the letters on the pages of books are not taught. Here, students are also taught life skills. Students cultivate mushrooms. They make pickles. There is earthworm farming. Radish and mustard greens are cultivated. Students themselves make sinki (fermented vegetable).

Pickles made according to the season, such as lapsi (Nepali hog plum), amla (Indian gooseberry), and mango, are in high demand. And that's not all! Students play naumati baja (traditional Nepali musical ensemble), panchai baja (five musical instruments), and madal (Nepali drum). There is even a bhajan (devotional song) group. A group of 12 students from classes 6 to 10 is ready for bhajan. They are in demand for worship, marriage, bratabandha (sacred thread ceremony), and other programs held in villages and temples. Students are also involved in cooking, plumbing, and wiring work.

According to Ranjit Bhandari, a teacher and cultural coordinator at the school, students charge 13,000 rupees for playing baja for two hours. Out of that, three thousand is deposited in the school fund, which is used to repair the musical instruments. Under the 'learn and earn' program, the vegetables grown by the students are consumed in the school itself. 239 teachers and staff are employed, and they themselves purchase the produced vegetables. Students do not have a market problem.

According to Principal Nyaupane, students are also taught values-based learning. They are taught values such as what time to sleep, wake up, what to eat, what not to eat, and how to address whom, and equality between daughters and sons. "In every period, we start by asking students if they are well or unwell, we greet them with 'namaskar'," says Nyaupane, "Students should be given moral education. They are not complete with just bookish knowledge." Sixteen children's clubs have been formed within the school premises. Extra-curricular activities are continuously conducted through them.

This is Nepal's only school where Mechanical (TSLC) subject is taught, claimed Principal Nyaupane. Technical education in this subject has been provided since 2058 BS under the Annex program. Lumbini Province is the only place where a three-year hotel management course is taught here. Its attraction is increasing as it includes restaurant, lab, guest room, and manpower management studies.

Inclusive Education and Support for Diverse Learners

Inclusive education is also operational at Shanti. Special arrangements have been made to teach children with disabilities. There has been a resource class for the visually impaired since 2045 BS, where 44 children are still studying. 11 students with hearing and visual impairments have been studying since 2077 BS. Children with autism have also been studying here for three years. Principal Nyaupane stated that 23 such students are currently studying. In SLC, it was Nepal first in 2068 BS and 2073 BS.

Kanti Secondary School: Another Leading Public School

Kanti Secondary School in Butwal is another school that has established itself as excellent despite being a government school. Located in Butwal Bazaar, this school is also ISO-certified (International Organization for Standardization). It has become the first choice for parents, including teachers from other schools, civil servants, police administration, social leaders, and others, to enroll their children.

Currently, 5,700 students are studying in this school. Based on student numbers, it is the third-largest school in Nepal. "We do not invite parents at the time of admission. They themselves come searching for us," said Principal Govind Gyawali, "Every year, we are forced to turn away students due to limited quotas." Education is provided here from nursery to class 12. There is a good arrangement for drinking water within the school premises. This is a model school in Lumbini Province for science subjects. 850 students are studying science subjects in classes 11 and 12. For this, the school has also received a hostel building. 300 students from classes 3 to 12 are studying in the hostel.

According to Principal Gyawali, departments for all subjects have been formed. Class representatives have been appointed from the students in each class. "There is good support from parents. We emphasize student improvement-oriented evaluation," said Gyawali, "We hold parent meetings and implement their suggestions carefully." Currently, 217 teachers and staff are employed. Only 24 teacher positions are government-funded in the school. Other teachers are supported by school resources and teacher contributions, Gyawali shared.

However, the school has been without a school management committee leadership for a year. Gyawali shared that it is becoming difficult to select the leadership due to the long line of aspirants. "The sub-metropolitan city said that if the leadership is elected through a voting process, it will send a bad message, so that process has not happened," says Gyawali, "We understand that prestigious people in society are interested in taking leadership because it is a good school." Initially, 6 members must be elected to the management committee. At least three of them must be women. There is a provision to elect the chairman of the management committee from the 6 elected members.

Gyawali complained that in the absence of a management committee leadership, problems are being faced in teacher selection and in demanding plans for school physical infrastructure development, etc., from the sub-metropolitan city, province, and federal government. He also mentioned that a decision will be made soon regarding the election of the committee leadership.

Model Schools in Rupandehi District

According to Madhav Banjade, head of the Education Development and Coordination Unit Rupandehi, there are 9 schools with more than 2,000 students in Rupandehi district. He informed that there are 9 schools including Kalika, Kanti, and Shanti Namuna. 4,700 students are studying at Nabin Audyogik Kadar Bahadur Rita Secondary School in Butwal. According to the assistant principal of the school, Romnath Ghimire, a total of 178 teachers and staff are employed here.

Sainamaina Secondary School in Sainamaina, Public Secondary School in Chhapiya, Leela Ram Nyaupane Secondary School in Bhairahawa, Ramnaresh Secondary School in Rohini, and Rampur Secondary School in Sainamaina are large schools based on student numbers with more than two thousand students studying. "Having a high student population means that there is something good in that school," said Banjade, "If the quality and management are not good, parents will not be interested. Rupandehi is a model district in the country for community schools to perform excellently."

Unit chief Banjade informed that programs have been conducted to exchange experiences by taking teachers from excellent schools to other schools on-site with experts. "We have been taking teachers from good schools to see how weak schools can be uplifted," he said, "We go there and observe classes. There is also an in-depth discussion on what aspects of improvement can be made." He shared that schools that have succeeded in achieving excellent results despite the shortage of teacher positions have risen with the support of parents. The coordination unit is working in areas such as teacher appointment, transfer, promotion, SEE exam management, teacher capacity development, and monitoring, he said.

Quotes from School Leaders:

"We conduct programs to exchange experiences by taking teachers from excellent schools to other schools on-site with experts. There are discussions with teachers from good schools about how weak schools can be uplifted. We have in-depth discussions on what aspects of improvement can be made."

Madhav Banjade, Unit Chief, Education Development and Coordination Unit, Rupandehi

"The committee does not interfere in the daily administrative work of the school. Being continuously in the leading position in the country from Mofasal has made everyone proud. We are strong in terms of physical and financial condition. Our experience is that if there is continuous dedication and hard work, community schools can also be excellent. Schools from all over the country come to visit our school every year."

Nityananda Gyawali, Chairman, Kalika Manavgyan Secondary School, Butwal

"Our school has become the first choice for parents to enroll their children. Currently, 5,700 students are studying here. We do not invite parents at the time of admission. They themselves come searching for us, which has further encouraged us. This is a model school in Lumbini Province for science subjects."

Govind Gyawali, Principal, Kanti Secondary School, Butwal

"In the current academic session, 1,200 students could not be enrolled due to limited quotas. There is no physical capacity to enroll more students than the limited number of students enrolled. We also teach students life skills. Students cultivate mushrooms. They make pickles. There is earthworm farming. Pickles made according to the season, such as lapsi, amla, and mango, are in high demand."

Kul Prasad Lamichhane, Principal, Shanti Namuna Secondary School, Tilottama Rupandehi

"Shanti Namuna Secondary School in Tilottama is the leading school in Rupandehi in terms of student numbers. Currently, 6,400 students are studying here. It is the second-largest school in Nepal in terms of having a large number of students."

"According to the principal of the school, Kul Prasad Lamichhane, 1,200 students could not get admission in the school in the current academic session due to limited quotas. There is also no physical capacity to enroll more students than the currently enrolled number of students. 'There is an overwhelming number of students seeking admission every year,' said Lamichhane, 'We are in the process of building additional physical infrastructure. After that, more students can be added.' He informed that students are admitted to classes 6 and 9 only through entrance exams. He reacted that students coming from neighboring schools in classes 5 and 8 could not be admitted due to limited quotas."

Key Statistics

Kalika Manavgyan Secondary School

Student Enrollment: 7,750 students
Girls Students: 4,163
Boys Students: 3,587
Gender Gap (Girls more than Boys): 576
Teachers and Staff: 347
Year of National First in SLC Exam: 2073 BS (Nepali Calendar)
Year of National Third in SLC Exam: 2074 BS
Year of National First in 16 Indicators: 2080 BS
Year of National Best in Class 12: 2081 BS
Year Declared Model School: 2075 BS
Land Area: 5 bigha and 8 kattha
Building Blocks: 16
Classrooms: 129
Toilets: 27
Orphan and Poor Students: 37
Sections in Class 11 & 12: 31 each
Student Limit - Early Childhood Development: 35
Student Limit - Class 1, 2, 3: 40
Student Limit - Class 4, 5: 45
Student Limit - Class 6 and above: 48
Students Turned Away (Current Session): 3,500
Annual Expenditure: 300 million (30 crore) Nepali Rupees
Year of Establishment (approximate): 2018 BS (Implied from "2018 BS starting education in an open field")
Bhajan Group Size: 12 students (Classes 6-10)
Baja Playing Charge (2 hours): 13,000 Nepali Rupees
School's Share from Baja Charge: 3,000 Nepali Rupees
Children's Clubs: 16
Year Technical Education Started (Approximate): 2058 BS
Visually Impaired Students in Resource Class: 44
Visually and Hearing Impaired Students (since 2077 BS): 11
Autistic Students: 23
Year SLC Nepal First (Female): 2068 BS
Year SLC Nepal First (Overall): 2073 BS