Gandaki Boarding School

Establishment

It was established in 1966 on the banks of Seti River. Initially the facilities were primitive with all the thatched-roofed buildings mud and bamboo. There were 45 boarding students, who were catered for by five teaching staff. It was designated as a co-educational regional school in 1985 with English as the medium of instruction in an agreement between Nepal government and the United Mission to Nepal.

Until 1991, courses were available for Grade 4 to Grade 10. Then it started offering 10+2 system under the Higher Secondary Education Board. GBS is the first of few schools to introduce 10+2 in Nepal. Prior to the commencement of 10+2 education; students were prepared for O level study for a number of years.

In 1999, a new college was started in GBS. Gandaki College of Engineering and Sciences (GCES), is affiliated to Pokhara University and offers Bachelor of Engineering (BE) courses in Software Engineering.

From 2010, it offers GCE A-Level Course under the Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.

Landmarks

• 11 June 1966 (30th Jestha, 2023): established as Nepal Adarsha Vidyashram for boys.
• 1985: Changed to English medium school and renamed to Gandaki Boarding School (GBS).
• 1985: Recognized as the "Regional School" by the Government of Nepal.
• 1985: Adopted co-education system by enrolling girls.
• 1988: Gained a nationwide fame after Rajendra Gurung stood in SLC board first.
• 1991: Celebrated its Silver Jubilee.
• 1991: Started 10+2 in Science stream.
• 1999: Started Gandaki College of Engineering and Sciences (GCES).
• 2004: Awarded Birendra Bidhya National shield for SLC results with 4 boards, 66 distinctions, 100% first division among 113 candidates.
• 2010: Started GCE-A Level studies under the University of Cambridge, England.

Principals

• Ms Martha Mukhya – Founder Principal(One and only female principal)(June 1966 to December 1968 )
• Mr Tom Valvik - Principal (February 1969 to 1971)
• Mr Jonathan Lindell - Principal (July 1971 to 1976)
• Mr Larry Asher - Principal (June 1974 to July 1975 and January 1977 to October 1977)
• Mr Brian Wood - Principal (October 1977 to October 1980)
• Mr Bhoj raj Neupane - Principal (May 1979 to January 1980 and October 1980 to December 1982)
• Mr Heramba Prasad Koirala - Principal (January 1983 to June 1984)
• Mr Narahari Sharma - Acting Principal (July 1984 to December 1984)
• Dr David Bambach – Principal (February 1985 to June 1989)
• Mr richard Cameron - Acting Principal (July 1987 to December 1987)
• Mr Ben Westerling - Acting Principal (July 1989 to December 1989)
• Mr John Barclay – Principal (February 1990 to February 1996)
• Mr Jay Hutchinson – Acting Principal (1993–1993)
• Dr PV Chandy – Principal (February 1996 to December 2006)
• Dr. Dale W. Rosenburg - Acting Principal (1999 to 2001)
• Mr Bam Dev Sharma – Acting Principal (2006 to February 2007)
• Mr George John - Principal(February 2007 to April 2008)
• Mr Kamal Prasad Neupane – Acting Principal (April 2008 to October 2008)
• Mr Rabi Prasad Baral – Principal Since 2008- Present

Dr P.V Chandy GBS Scholarship Trust

Although the scholarship programme is continuing with the financial support of donor agencies, individual donors and the government of Nepal, it seemed imperative to open a trust in order to provide a strong financial security to the scholarship programme even after the UMN withdraws its support to the school. For this reason, Dr. P. V Chandy GBS Trust was established at the initiation of UMN expatriate Principal, Dr. P. V Chandy with the approval of the GBS Management committee and the United Mission to Nepal. The trust has been registered with the Government of Nepal, District Administration office, Kaski.

Dr. P. V Chandy is the chief patron of this trust, and a committee consisting of 10 members has been formed under the chairperson of EX. Rt Hon. Member of the Raj Parisad Standing Committee, Mr. Ganesh Bahdur Gurung. 48.5 million (4.85 crore) rupees has been raised and deposited at fixed accounts. Its mission is to raise the fund up to 10 million (10 crore) rupees so that the scholarship programme can continue to survive from the interest of the trust even after the withdrawal of the UMN’s involvement.

Health Center

The health center takes care of minor illnesses and first aid services. Serious cases are referred to the bigger hospitals of Pokhara. A CMA counselor and a nurse remain in charge of the health center and of the health education classes.

Science Laboratories

The laboratories are for the science courses throughout classes 4 to 12. Each class have science practical classes in the science labs. In addition to the science teachers, the science department has three lab assistants who maintain the science apparatus and science facilities.

Hostels

There are ten hostels in GBS; seven for boys and three for girls. The hostels are named after the highest mountains of Nepal. For 2014/15 the hostels are:

• Hostel No. 1 Dhaulagiri (class 7, boys) Shree Ram Adhikari
• Hostel No. 2 Lamjung (class 10, boys) Man Bahadur Thapa
• Hostel No. 3 Himalchuli (class 9, boys) Kedar Prasad Dhakal
• Hostel No. 4 Nilgiri (class 8, boys) Matrika Prasad Baral
• Hostel No. 5 Machhapuchchhre (class 4/5/6, boys) Deepak Raj Adhikari
• Hostel No. 6 Annapurna (class 4/5/6, boys) Krishna Shyam Sharma
• Hostel No. 7 Everest (class 10/11/12 and A level, girls) Nani Maya Podel
• Hostel No. 8 Manaslu (class 4/5/6, girls) Sony Thapa
• Hostel No. 9 Gaurishankar (class 7/8/9, girls) Basanti Tamang
• Hostel No. 10 Kanchanjungha (10+2 and A level, boys) Daya Ram Gumanju

Sports facilities

• Gymnasium (volleyball, basketball, indoor football, badminton, softball, handball)
• One volleyball court near hostel 1 and 4.
• Outdoor basketball courts near Hostel 3 for boys, and in Hostels 7 and 9 for girls.
• Cricket pitch.
• Two football grounds.
• One outdoor handball court.
• Table tennis board in each hostels.
• Tennis court.
• Hockey ground in girls hostel.

Library

The library was established in B.S. 2025. Set up in a simple building with limited resources, it now stands as one of the most well-equipped libraries in the western region and Nepal as well. It has more than 25,000 books including fiction, non-fiction, and reference. The library subscribes to most of the notable newspapers and magazines published in Nepal, Audio Visual and open system library.

Library studies form a part of the school curriculum, in the course of which all students learn the positive use and exploitation of the library and its materials. Library projects are assessed as a component of the termly examination marks from grades 4 to 6.

Library facilities and services:

• Borrowing books
• Reference and reading service
• Photocopy, computer printing
• Audio visual

Dining hall and kitchen

The Catering Department serves food for all the boarder students.
Timetable:

• 06:15–06:40 Breakfast
• 08:30–09:15 Morning food (all boarders)
• 13:00–13:45 Khaja (snacks) (classes 4 to 10 and A-Level)
• 13:45–14:30 Khaja (snacks) (classes 11, 12)
• 16:00–17:00 Milk time ( for boarders)
• 18:15–19:00 Dinner (classes 4 to 12)

Houses and annual competitions

Students are divided into four houses:

• Seti (red)
• Rapti (yellow)
• Karnali (green)
• Trishuli (blue)

The four houses compete in annual activities.

• Annual Sports Day (athletics)
• Inter-House sports competitions: football, volleyball, basketball, cricket (boys), rounders (girls), badminton, table tennis, soft tennis.
• Inter-House academic competitions: general knowledge, essay writing (English and Nepali), speech (English and Nepali), debate(English and Nepali).

Other activities

• GBS level basketball, football and cricket tournaments (annual)
• Football, volleyball, and basketball competitions with outside teams.
• Taking part in outside tournaments in football, essay writing, general knowledge, speech contest, essay writing competition, spelling contest, etc.