Students in Japan can now learn Nepali.  ‘Everest International School (EIS)’ is being established in the country to teach Nepali curriculum.

Dr Bhupal Man Shrestha, the President of Nepal Education Centre, Tokyo, revealed that they would be teaching textbooks on Nepali culture and art. “When the Nepali community in Japan felt the need for a Nepali school for their children, we decided to open one,” he said. The EIS would begin its classes from April.

According to Japanese government’s record, there are a total of 20,383 Nepalis residing in Japan with around 1,000 children, who need to be enrolled in primary level. Shrestha said the school would be first of its kind to establish ‘Nepali language hegemony’ in Japan.

“For a couple who are working in Japan, it would be costlier to enroll their kids in hostels in Nepal as compared to schools in Japan,” explained Shrestha.

Shrestha went on to say that Nepali teachers would teach the curriculum in English medium through the Montessori method. “In the first year, we expect to have around 50-70 students. But it may increase to 200 after few years,” he said.

Former education minister and CPN-UML politburo member Ganga Lal Tuladhar suggested developing the school into a Nepali university in future so that there could be student exchange programmes.