Birtamod, Aug. 22 -- Three years ago, there were only 57 students at Saraswati Basic School in Shivasatakshi Municipality, Jhapa. But thanks to the school's quality education, well-facilitated infrastructure and dedicated teachers, it has since managed to attract around 200 students.

The school runs classes from grade one to five.

In the current academic year alone, 82 students from private schools joined the Saraswati Basic, according to Headmaster Ganesh Ghimire. "It's good to see students preferring our school to other schools in the area. But we are having a hard time just running the school for lack of funds."

The school management committee has taken a loan of Rs530,000 at 16 percent interest from Kumudini Saving and Credit Coope...