Structure of the Bamboo Schools

Bamboo schools provide education in the primary level of grade 1-5, lower secondary and secondary level of grade 6-8, and the higher grades 9-10 (grade 10 is just being introduced in some schools). They have also introduced pre-primary level classes in three sections: nursery, lower kindergarten, and upper kindergarten.

Students have to pass an entrance examination to be admitted into the school (primary level and onward). The national “School Leaving Certificate” (SLC) examination is conducted at the end of grade 10.

The academic standards in the bamboo schools are high and demanding. The schools currently offer physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, Nepali, social studies, and English language in the secondary level, using Cambridge books from nursery to grade 9.

The first batch of graduating students from the Samata Siksha Niketan (Jorpati Bamboo School) took the School Leaving Centificate (SLC) exam in 2008 and performed beyond expectation.

In 2011, the fourth batch of Samata Siksha Niketan (Jorpati and Bhaktapur Bamboo Schools) took the SLC examination. Out of a total of 74 students, 61 passed with distinction and the rest of the students passed in the first division.

Source:
Progress Report On Bamboo Schools (Samata Siksha Niketan) 25 November 2011, Revised in 2012
Prepared By Birendra Singh (Program Officer for Education Program, Nepal) Karuna-Shechen
http://karuna-shechen.org/pdf/en/project_reports/Bamboo%20Schools%20Progress%20Report%202012.pdf