GORKHA, April 27: Following the devastating 2015 earthquake, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) took the responsibility of reconstructing 58 school buildings in quake epicenter Gorkha district. However, three years on, JICA has completed the construction of only one building so far.
The newly constructed school building of Dharmodaya High School at Mirkot was handed over to Panungtar Municipality chief Deepakbabu Kandel by Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel.
The building was constructed with a cost of Rs 50.6 million in 18 months. It is disabled friendly and has necessary facilities for students. Inaugurating the school building, Minister Pokharel said they plan to increase the standard of school buildings as the one constructed by JICA.
In the first phase, IICA is constructing 28 school buildings in Gorkha. They plan to construct 30 school buildings in the second phase, out of which construction of 18 buildings has already begun, informed District Education Officer Deependera Subedi.
The quake had destroyed 443 school buildings in Gorkha. Some buildings have been reconstructed and others are in the process of being rebuilt. However, as many as 80 buildings still face uncertainties over reconstruction.
According to the District Education Office (DEO), Gorkha, the reconstruction of 254 schools has been completed so far while 109 buildings are undergoing reconstruction. Most of the schools where reconstruction has not taken place are primary schools.
The Indian government had also taken responsibility to reconstruct 11 schools of the district. However, the reconstruction of none of these schools has started so far, according to the DEO.