NAVODAYA A PRIVATE* SCHOOL

We arrived in Chitwan and had an amazing welcome in our new school called Navodaya.

All the children were lined up and they welcomed us with lovely chantes and poems.

Almost everywhere in Nepal private schools ask for money when you want to admit your child. Well not in Navodaya. Their system is quite different. The history of the school is very interesting, Father Michael told us that initially the school was ruled by someone else. This person started a school especially for the children of the Chepang community because they were in a minority. After a while he got in financial trouble and started to look for investors to keep the school running. It’s then when Father Michael and his Little Flower Society came in the picture. They worked together and kept the school going. Unfortunately the companion of Father Michael passed away and he became the head of the new school in 2005.

Father Michael and his staff take care of 230 students. Each year an astonishing group of 300 students apply and only 30 will be admitted. These 30 students will be lucky enough to get free education, clothes, food and accommodation for the next 8 years.

The school has a hard time picking out this small amount. Their choice will be based on these criteria: highest score and distance. If the students live really secluded they will have priority on students that may live closer to a public school. Also the school only picks out 1 student/family. This will ensure that all the families have an equal chance for their children. So now you understand the ‘*’ in private* school.

In return the children do some labour in the garden so that they can provide for their own food. They also keep the school in good shape. They clean their own rooms, halls and the lavatories. They also wash their own clothes. This gives the children a great sense of responsibility. So even the young kids of class 3 (8-11 year olds) help out with all these chores.

All the children wake up around 6am. They quickly freshen them self-up and go pray. Afterwards they work for a couple of hours in the garden and have breakfast at 9am.

At 9:45 the children ensemble in front of the school. Each day a class prepares a small presentation. They read the paper and some read their poems or even sing a song. Before heading to class all the 230 students sing the national anthem. Hmm goose bumps! Enjoy :D

The students all belong to the same community. So there is a strong bond between them. Not only do they have immense respect for each other, they also have this respect for their teachers, the Sisters and Father Michael. Their kindness will melt your heart.