Students of Janajagriti Secondary School in Sindhupalchok have shifted into a newly constructed school building after four years of studying in makeshift classes. Their previous school building was destroyed in the Gorkha Earthquake of April 25, 2015.

“Now that we have moved into a new building, students are regularly coming to school. The new building is both earthquake-resilient and disabled-friendly, and has proper toilets and a library” said Madhav Prasad Khanal, the school headmaster.

The construction of the building was funded by the Japanese Embassy, which recently handed over the Rs 20 million building to the school authorities.

According to the data of the District Project Implementation Unit, the construction of 290 school buildings in Sindhupalchok has been completed so far. The devastating 2015 earthquake had destroyed 528 school buildings in the district.

Devya Thapa, a 10th grader at Thangpaldhap Secondary School in Sindhupalchok, said she is looking forward to attending classes in the new school building.

“We faced difficulties for a long time due to a lack of toilets and other infrastructures. But now we don’t have to face such hardships. Our classes will continue even if it rains or gets too cold,” said Thapa.

Yam Bahadur Khadka, chief at the District Project Implementation Unit, said, “School buildings in the district are being constructed with the assistance of various government and non-government organisations,” said Khadka, adding that the reconstruction of the quake-affected schools in Sindhupalchok is expected to complete in two years.