BAITADI, August 24: The students of Gyaneshwar Secondary School at Siddheshwar in Patan Municipality of Baitadi district are benefiting from the in-built Child Development Center (CDC) which has helped them study as well enjoy their time in school. The CDC has been built since seven years especially for pre-primary students.
Kalawati Bista, facilitator of the CDC, said that child-friendly facilities at the development center have increased learning habits of the students and has also increased their attendance. She said that students who hated learning by rote in the past have started enjoying their classes due to the fun learning method taught here. "Previously we hardly had eight or nine children but now we are getting new students every day" said Bista.
There are 417 CDCs in the district but the CDC in Siddheshwar stands out from the rest, according to Shankar Dutta Bhatta, information officer at the District Education Office, who said that the mobilization of its internal resources has helped it to be the best center.
The school has put carpets so that the children do not feel cold while sitting on the floor. Basic resources like chairs and shoe racks alongside activities like wall writing, painting and other educational materials have helped the children learn and enjoy as well.
"We have six corners such as mathematics corner, music corner and acting corner for the children to learn various skills," said CDC facilitator Bista. Local parents have praised this CDC at a time when parents are sending their children to private schools.
Tarka Raj Bhatta, principal of Gyaneshwar Secondary School, said that the child-friendly environment has helped the students to be disciplined as well as encouraged others to enroll at the school. One of the teachers, Bal Dev KC, said that their curriculum has helped in increasing quality of education and has made a positive impact on parents as well.
District Education Officer Lal Singh Ter said that having child-friendly education, child-friendly buildings as well showing child-friendly behavior at the CDC has helped raise awareness among teachers and parents about children.