Social entrepreneur and founder of Nepal Wireless Networking Project, Mahabir Pun, has inaugurated a computer and online study programme at Nangin Secondary School in remote Nangin VDC of Panchthar district. 

The programme was introduced as part of the campaign, “Let’s Build Our Own School, in support of Equality Foundation, whose objective is to help communities grow and develop in the fields of education, health, commerce and industry through information technology. The foundation’s mission is bridging the gap of digital divide by providing computer and internet access to people in rural parts of the world.  

“Information technology is crucial in today’s world. If one do not possess basic computer skills, no matter how well-versed they are on book knowledge, they will have a hard time succeeding in their areas of work,” said Pun, who is also a patron of the foundation. The foundation has provided 15 computers and a projector to Nangin Secondary to run computer and online learning classes. 

In its pilot phase, the programme will be implemented in 27 schools in Panchthar. Medani Adhikari, executive director of the foundation, said they plan to distribute 20 computers and a projector to all community schools in the district if the pilot programme succeeds.

“We chose Nangin Secondary to introduce the programme because it was the first community school in the district to start computer classes,” Adhikari said.

Nangin Secondary has been offering computer class from grade six onwards. The students, however, did not have practical knowledge on the subject, until now. 

Barsha Thamsuhang, a ninth grader, said she was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to learn how to use a computer at her school.

“Everything we learned about computers so far were through textbooks, now we can have hands-on experience. This will be fun,” she said.