A building of Mahankal Primary School at Aagra-8 in the northern Makawanpur district built with Earthbag technology has reprieved students from studying under makeshift shelters.

The April 25 earthquake had destroyed the school building.

The Earthbag building model is a simple structure in which cement bags are filled with soil and stacked as bricks.

Roshan Kumar Jha, executive director of Good Earth Nepal, said that his organisation has constructed a two-room building for the school, which he said is Good Earth Nepal's first school in Nepal.

“It was the most popular quake-resistant house model presented in the ‘rural design’ competition organised by Nepal Engineering Association,” said Jha, adding that the building has been constructed with the sacks filled with soil . “These sacks are made up of polypropylene. Each of them will last over 500 years if plastered.” Around 86 percent of materials used were locally resourced.

Local Dambar Rumba said he was surprised by the foundation. “The students can study in a good building now,” said Rumba.

The walls have been cement-plastered.

Seven locals along with two foreigners worked for 75 days to construct the school building. There are 159 students studying in the school.

Headmaster Raj Kumar Karki said students were happy to study in the new school building.