The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Nepal handed over the newly reconstructed Shree Kali Devi Primary School in Kavre District to the local community on Monday. The April 2015 earthquake had severely damaged the school, destroying five classrooms and other school facilities.

“The reconstruction of the school was an opportunity to build back better. Now, the school is not only rebuilt to earthquake-resistant standards but it also provides an improved learning environment for children,” said Mukhtor Khamudkhanov, ADB’s Country Director for Nepal. “We hope this new building will inspire teachers and students to do their best.”

The newly reconstructed school has 7 classrooms and a library in 3 buildings as well as separate toilet blocks for girls and boys. The buildings are modern structures resistant to earthquakes and designed with disabled-friendly features.

Prior to the construction of the new buildings, students were taking classes at temporary makeshift classrooms. “Had it not been for the new buildings, the school would have been closed as the number of students was dwindling,” says Prem Lal Shrestha, the school’s head teacher. “But now, we are confident students will come back as parents also feel the new buildings are safe.”

The handover ceremony was also attended by Madhu Prasad Regmi, Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Executive Member of National Reconstruction Authority Dhruba Prasad Sharma, representatives of the local community.

The school was reconstructed under the Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project (EEAP) jointly financed by the ADB and the Nepal Government. The ADB provided $200 million while the government contributed $33.4 million. 

The United States Agency for International Development also contributed $10 million for the project that is rebuilding 154 schools damaged by the earthquake. Out of that, 11 schools are ready to be handed over to the community. The EEAP-supported school reconstruction programme is scheduled for completion in early 2019.