Two decades of Creative Academy: Building Dreams, Shaping Futures

Eva Swar and Jaya Basyal

29 June 2023

Kirtipur, Kathmandu 

They were desperate. They wanted to do something new which would also support their livelihood but didn't know what they should do. They decided to establish an English medium School. However, in those days, it seemed a foolish decision. Country was suffering from “Maoist Insurgency”, and the strike was general. Maoist, the then insurgent political group, was determined to close all private schools. 

“However, after considerable thought we decided to establish the school and our journey began with optimism”, says Khagendra Gautam, one of the founders.

As told by Gautam, the group of friends consisting of Shiva Giri, Prasuram Khanal, Marijman Singh, BN Poudel, and himself decided to establish the school. Finally, on the 8th of Baisakh 2060 BS, the Creative Academy (CA) was founded.The school now provides the light of education for more than 1200 students.

Shiva Giri remembers those initial days. At first, they had trouble finding the students. Giri was acquainted with several people from the orphanage in Kirtipur. He talked to the members of the orphanage and together they managed to gather nine students. A blue van used to carry and drop them from the Balkhu area.

“Due to a lack of funds, all of the founders used to share RS. 40 each day to eat Wai Wai noodles for lunch”, recalls Siba Giri. Since the main motto of the school was to deliver something unique for Kirtipur, they even invested the money they profited from the fee of students for the development of the school itself.

 “We should show them by working  rather than begging” says Shiva Giri. So, they focused on extra curricular activities instead of being confined within the curriculum. Simultaneously, they  established Science lab and computer lab too for better learning opportunities, which was a new initiative for then Kirtipur.  As a result, CA became the first school in Kirtipur to have a pre-primary study system, as well as the first entirely English-speaking school in Kirtipur, attracting the attention of immigrant students.

With the flow of time, CA gained popularity and success which began from 9 students to 90 in one year. Each year, one grade was added, and C. A succeeded to become a school until the tenth grade in 2065 BS.

As explained by Sumitra Giri, a teacher of CA, "discipline is the pillar to success." 

Creative Academy has received several honors for its outstanding and unique creations. Creative Academy is also a recipient of an International School award from the British Council. 

“One of the most memorable and valuable awards for  Creative Academy was our first trophy, which we received in a dance competition. Miss Prerada instructed the dance, and senior students performed it”,says Shiva Giri. 

According to BN Poudel, the principal, CA recognizes the importance of providing a world-class educational experience that prepares children for global citizenship. “It believes that an excellent curriculum with a global dimension is critical for preparing children to face the challenges of the twenty-first century with confidence and character strength”, says Poudel.

As per her experience, Drishty shrestha, in-charge of primary level, CA always encourages teachers for their self development too. “Myself being a teacher of Creative Academy for the past  13 years, I can proudly tell that Creative Academy is a progressive school which encourages teachers for their self development too”, she says. 

“The old students who studied in Creative Academy are in very good positions. Majority  of them are aboard whereas many hold great positions in Nepal. Yet, they occasionally visit the school to express their gratitude to the teachers.” explains Shiva Giri.