Shri Saraswati Parmanand Basic School, Janakpurdham: Fulfilling a Dream of Quality Education
Janakpurdham, 6th May 2023 - In a small village called Kolhawa, located in the Mukhiapatti Musaharnia Rural Municipality of Janakpurdham, three local social workers, Shubkant Jha, Parmanand Jha, and Fakiri Yadav, shared a common dream 18 years ago. They envisioned building a school that would cater to the educational needs of their own village.
The lack of nearby schools in the three settlements of Phechha, Kolhwa, and Labtoli posed a challenge for children in the area. They had to undertake risky journeys to distant schools. Fakiri Yadav, along with Shubhkant and Parmanand Jha, experienced this difficulty firsthand. That incident sparked the idea of establishing a basic school in their village, thus laying the foundation for their dream. The Jha family generously allocated a portion of their land at Tulsiahi exit, a strategic location between the three villages, for the proposed school.
"At that time, children from this area had to travel approximately two kilometers to Vaidej Mavi Vaidyanath Devananda Janata Mavi or other places for education. During the rainy season, it became particularly challenging for young children to commute," reminisced Fakiri Yadav, now 70 years old. "We dreamt of establishing a basic school to alleviate this problem and provide quality education."
The land was promptly allocated, and the group, along with other local social workers and politicians, approached the district education office to seek approval for the school. Unfortunately, they discovered that the bond required for a basic-level school, as per government standards, was insufficient. "We needed to provide a guarantee in the form of money or land, but we couldn't find a donor willing to contribute the required amount of around five lakh rupees. Additionally, the valuation of the land fell short," explained Yadav. Disheartened but undeterred, they returned home. Yadav pointed to the roof covered with bamboo poles and old zinc, remnants of the failed attempt. They had even managed to obtain discarded zinc sheets from Vaidej Mavi, but permission to operate the school was not granted. Political unrest and other challenges forced them to halt their efforts midway.
Without proper protection, the school gradually lost its identity. The brick foundation laid 18 years ago remained untouched, and the bamboo structure fell into disrepair. However, the dream persisted. Shubkant Jha passed away six to seven years ago, followed by Parmanand Jha a year and a half ago. Among the trio, only Fakiri Yadav remained, keeping the dream alive. Amreshkant Jha, the son of the late Parmanand Jha, joined forces to revive the vision.
With Amreshkant's assistance, a chartered accountant and politician, the dream that took root 18 years ago has finally come to fruition. On the auspicious day of 21st Baisakh 2080, approval was received to establish the 'Shri Saraswati Parmanand Basic School' up to the third grade. "I joined this initiative because I feel responsible for fulfilling my father's dream of having a school at the heart of our village. If he were alive today, it would be the happiest moment of his life," shared Jha. "An individual's life is fleeting, but social work endures. In memory of my father, we have donated six dhur of land to the school. Now, not only my family and the local community, but also the government is involved in the school."
"Now that the government is involved, we believe this dream will flourish on a larger scale," added JJha. The school aims to provide quality education, starting from the early years, and plans to offer instruction in the English medium. To ensure a smooth start, the village council has committed to promptly arranging three teachers for the school. Recognizing the importance of education as the foundation for social development, Jha stated, "In a time when many prefer private schools over public ones, we are determined to run this school with a focus on delivering quality education."
Uday Chandra Jha, the Chairman of Ward no. 4, expressed the local government's commitment to supporting quality education. They are dedicated to facilitating support from the state and federal governments as well. Ajay Kumar Yadav, the Chairman of the rural municipality, also pledged his full support in providing physical infrastructure and other necessary assistance to benefit the more than 500 families residing in the three villages. He shared that the current budget has allocated Rs 30 lakh for the school's management and development in the ongoing financial year.
Ashok Kumar Jha, the President of the Janata Samajwadi Party [JSP] Mukhiapatti Musaharnia Village Working Committee, emphasized the unanimous support of local political parties for the school. He stressed the importance of collective support and cooperation in the endeavor to provide quality education in community schools.
The news of the school's opening has brought joy to the children in the neighborhood. Vimalesh Kumar Yadav, a fourth-grade student at a private school located about two kilometers away from his home, expressed his happiness about having a school nearby. "Although I'm unsure if I will be able to study here, it brings happiness to me, my siblings, and other children," said Vimlesh.
Chanchal Kumari Yadav, a first-grade student at a local private school, is overjoyed that her younger sister will now be able to attend a nearby school as well. Chanchal shared, "Now, both my sister and I can come to school without having to walk long distances from our home."
On the 5th of May 2023, Amreshkant, the guardian and founder of the school, witnessed the happiness of the children during the program that marked the official commencement of the school. Despite the fact that only one child is currently enrolled from approximately 700 families in the area, the school anticipates a significant increase in admissions. Amreshkant acknowledged that there may be initial challenges but expressed confidence in winning the hearts of parents through the delivery of quality education.
Regarding concerns about accommodating a large number of students in limited space, Jha reassured, "My family owns approximately two and a half bigha of land surrounding the school. We are taking proactive measures to manage the land and accommodate the growing student body. We will strive to ensure a conducive environment for quality teaching and learning. However, the cooperation of all stakeholders is essential in achieving this goal."
Reflecting on the journey and the absent friends who shared the dream, Fakiri Yadav expressed his longing to share the joy with them. "If those social workers were alive today, they would be immensely proud. Their contributions will forever be remembered," he shared. He expressed his desire to witness the transformation of the school during his lifetime, eagerly awaiting the promising future that lies ahead.
The establishment of Shri Saraswati Parmanand Basic School marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of quality education in the region. With strong support from the local community, government authorities, and dedicated individuals like Amreshkant Jha, the school is poised to become a beacon of learning, fostering the holistic development of children and leaving a lasting impact on generations to come.
Published on 7th May 2023
Madhesh Pradesh Janakpur