Gangadhar Hada, the Principal of Medha Secondary School, has passed away on Monday morning. He was 57.
According to Yogendra Pokharel, an English teacher of the school, Principal Hada apparently died of cardiac arrest while he was heading to school.
“He complained of chest pain and frailty while he was heading to school on a motorbike. He took rest at a tea-shop and asked for water before he fainted. He was then rushed to Bhaktapur Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the doctors,” Pokharel told Nepalkhabar.
Hada’s body has been kept at Kathmandu Medical College (KMC), Duwakot. His final rites will be performed on Wednesday, according to his family sources.
Former chairman of the Nepal Teachers’ Association, Bhaktapur, he had been serving Medha Secondary School as the principal for the last one and a half decades. He had played an instrumental role in transforming an ordinary community school into the best school of the nation leaving behind all the private schools.
Parents, guardians and students have expressed deep sorrow, posting condolence messages on social networking sites over the untimely demise of Hada.
Yamuna Kattel, a section officer at the Ministry of Education, said Hada’s demise is an irreparable damage not only to Medha School but the entire field of education.
“The untimely demise of Hada, who was an education leader, the best guardian and a torchbearer in the field of education, has left an irreparable damage in the field of education,” said Kattel.
Expressing deep sorrow over Hada’s demise, Nepali Congress leader Pradeep Karki said Hada is revered for his unique contribution to the field of education.
“Principal Hada was a beacon of hope in the field of education not only in Bhaktapur but the entire nation,” said Karki, adding, “With constant efforts and dedication, he transformed an ordinary Kanya School into a model community school, which is popularly known as Medha Secondary School.”
Medha School took a new lease of life after Hada took charge as the vice principal on February 17, 2004. Due to his constant dedication to the school, Medha Secondary School managed to top the charts of community schools in the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) result in 2075 BS, eight years after he took charge as the head of the school.
In a recent interview with Nepalkhabar, Hada said, "Teaching should be taken up as a social service rather than a money-minting profession. The principal has an important role in creating an effective environment for the school. If he/she wants to improve quality education, he can bring drastic changes in the field of education."
Recognizing for his commendable contribution to the school, the government conferred Prabal Janasewa Shree Award, Shiksha Puraskar on Hada as being the principal of Medha School. Likewise, Medha School had received a cash prize of Rs 300,000 along with a medal and a letter of appreciation for becoming the top government school in 2075 BS.
In the SEE exams of 2078 BS, out of 107 students, 20 examinees got through the Iron Gate with A+, 52 A, 20 B+, 10 B and 5 with C score from this school.
Hada had started his teaching career from Suryodaya Secondary School in 2047 BS. He taught at Gyan Bijaya Secondary School, Bode Secondary School, Adarsha Secondary School before joining Kanya Secondary School (now Medha).
Born on October 23, 1966, he is survived by his wife, one son and a daughter.
Medha School is the leading example that has disseminated a positive message throughout the country that community schools also can impart a high level of quality education.
