About budhanilkantha

Budhanilkantha School, often referred to as BNKS, is a public boarding school in Nepal. It is located in Narayansthan, 8 kilometres north of Kathmandu on the foothills of Shivapurimountain (2,732 metres).^[1] It is named after the Budhanilkantha Temple which is located nearby.

Budhanilkantha School बूढानीलकण्ठ स्कूल
Budhanilkantha School
Address
Narayansthan, Vishnu VDC Bagmati Kathmandu , Province 3 (प्रदेश तीन) 44600 Nepal
Information
School type	Public, Independent school, Boarding school, Co-educationalGovernment funded
Motto	Centre of Excellence, Home away from Home
Established	1972; 47 years ago
School district	Kathmandu
Principal	Hom Nath Aacharya
Staff	200
Faculty	80
Number of students	1000 (approximately)
Student to teacher ratio	10:1
Nickname	BNKS
Affiliations	School Leaving Certificate (Grade 10) Cambridge International Examinations (A-level) Higher Secondary Education Board(10+2)

One-third of pupils are granted scholarships based on merit and need, after an entrance examination held in all the 75 districts of Nepal.^[2]

Budhanilkantha School was established in 1972 as a joint venture between the governments of Nepal and the United Kingdom. The first batch of students took the School Leaving Certificate Examination (the national exam that is equivalent to the British O-Level) in 1980. In 1983, English was made the official language of instruction at Budhanilkantha School. The University of Cambridge(CIE) O-Level and A-Level programs were introduced in 1985.

Budhanilkantha School converted from a boys' single-sex school to a co-educationalinstitution in 1992. Co-education at Budhanilkantha has been successful.

In 1994, the British management handed over the administration to Nepalese management

OverviewEdit

The school is a full boarding school for students from 5th grade to A-Level, aged 10 to 19.

Although the school is governed as a Public Educational Trust, it charges tuition fees for most students and also receives funding from the Ministry of Education. This makes the school a blend of private and public school. Approximately one-third of the students receive scholarships based on merit and need.

The school operates three courses of study:

1. School Leaving Certificate level (a nationwide curriculum up to class 10 prescribed by the Department of Education of Nepal),
2. Cambridge International A-Level and
3. 10+2 Level (Higher Secondary Education Board of Nepal, equivalent alternative to A-Level).

View of the snow-clad Shivapuri mountain from the Middle Pitch

Students must pass an entrance exam to gain admission into the school. Normally, entrance examinations are taken for entry into class 5 and post SLC levels. This is intended to continue the high academic status of the school.^[3]

Out of 118 students who took the School Leaving Certificate Examination 2014, 103 secured Distinction and the rest 15 students passed in the First Division..^[4]

Budhanilkantha School was the first school to introduce GCE Advanced Level in Nepal.^[5] It currently offers A-Levels in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Business Studies, Computer Science, Accounting and English Language. It is compulsory for students to sit exams in five subjects. Mathematics and English Language have to be studied by all students. Most students choose to study science-based subjects and some choose to combine sciences and social sciences. In A-Level exams of the year 2010, 12% of entries from the school secured grade A* and 30% entries secured grade A. 56% entries from the school secured more than or equal to grade B. 73% of the total entries, excluding General Paper, was on either math or science subjects.^[6] Budhanilkantha students regularly feature in the Cambridge outstanding achiever list as the best achieving A-Level candidates in Nepal and worldwide.^[7][8]