Schools in Far West face high risk of floods and landslides

Kailali: Most schools in the Far West are at high risk of natural disasters due to their locations in forests, riverbanks, and steep areas. Gwansi Basic School in Sahajpur, Chure Rural Municipality-3, Kailali, faces risks from lightning, fire, and windstorms as it lies in the middle of pine forests. Heavy rains and winds pose a significant danger of pine trees falling and causing severe damage to the school.

Local resident Dirgha Sapkota stated that although the school is located about 100 meters below the Bhimdatta Highway, which connects Attariya-Sayule, and is clearly visible, stakeholders have failed to pay attention to its risks. The school's principal, Indraraj Bhandari, echoed this concern, saying repeated requests by the School Management Committee for risk reduction have been ignored.

Similarly, Saraswati Basic School, situated near a road in Musetti, Bhimdatta Municipality-9, Kanchanpur, has been affected by a landslide. Landslides caused by heavy rains in August damaged the upper part of the road and the school building. Although the debris on the road has been cleared recently, making traffic possible, the school remains in a precarious state.

Principal Diwakar Joshi reported that out of the two buildings at Saraswati Basic School, a three-room structure was significantly damaged, with cracks rendering it unsafe for students. The second two-room building has been partially adapted, with one room serving as an office and the other divided into two using plywood to accommodate students.

Saraswati Basic School, which offers classes up to grade 5, is currently forced to combine students from two grades in the same room. Principal Joshi noted that overcrowding has disrupted learning, as noise carries between makeshift classrooms, making it difficult to focus on studies. Teachers face challenges teaching different subjects simultaneously to students from grade 2 in the same space.

The school currently has 40 students and four teachers — two permanent, one for child development, and one private. Principal Joshi also revealed that the private teacher has not received a salary since December last year.

Similar issues persist across schools in Doti, Achham, Bajura, Bajhang, Baitadi, and other districts in Sudurpaschim Province. These schools remain vulnerable to floods, landslides, forest fires, and lightning. Experts emphasize the urgent need to relocate at-risk schools to safer locations, undertake structural improvements, and implement emergency preparedness programs.

Despite plans by local administrations across all nine districts of Sudurpaschim Province to address natural hazards, no significant work has been carried out to protect vulnerable schools. Experts stress that the government must prioritize and implement effective measures to safeguard schools against natural disasters.