IBDP Gyaan Mela : A Celebration of Knowledge
Kathmandu – Premier International School, Nepal’s first and only IB Continuum School, recently hosted the 2025 edition of its annual Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Exhibition. Titled Gyaan Mela, which translates to “knowledge carnival”, the event served as both a celebration of learning and a significant academic milestone for Year 1 students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
Held on the school’s premises, the exhibition brought together the entire Premier IB community, including students, educators, and parents from the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). Participants from partner schools across Kathmandu were also in attendance, creating a dynamic atmosphere of intellectual exchange and cultural engagement.
The name Gyaan Mela was purposefully chosen to reflect the spirit of the event while grounding it in a local context. According to school leadership, the title symbolized Premier’s ongoing commitment to making global education relevant and meaningful for its diverse student body and their families.
The Theory of Knowledge Exhibition is a core assessment component of the IBDP. It requires students to engage with one of 35 knowledge questions prescribed by the International Baccalaureate and relate them to three real-world objects. Each object is accompanied by a commentary that explains how it connects to the knowledge question, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding of how knowledge is constructed, challenged, and applied in different contexts.
This year’s exhibits reflected a wide range of topics. Student booths featured objects and discussions on themes such as artificial intelligence, indigenous knowledge systems, ethical considerations in scientific research, and the reliability of historical narratives. These displays became hubs for lively discussion, as attendees engaged students with thoughtful questions and reflections. Parents, teachers, and peers alike were impressed by the intellectual depth and creativity evident in each presentation.
Principal Shama Chhetri praised the efforts of the students and highlighted the broader value of the TOK curriculum. “The TOK Exhibition encourages learners to think beyond what is taught in textbooks. It expands their thinking and equips them with the intellectual tools to question, reflect, and grow. I believe the skills they acquire here will serve them long into the future,” she said.
The school’s management echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the exhibition reflects the heart of the IB philosophy. They noted that IB education is not just about academic achievement but also about developing well-rounded, critically aware, and globally minded individuals. Events like Gyaan Mela illustrate how inquiry-based learning can help students build both intellectual independence and emotional resilience.
The success of the exhibition also reinforced Premier International School’s role as a leader in innovative education in Nepal. For families seeking an academic environment that nurtures global citizenship while remaining deeply connected to local identity and culture, the IB Diploma Programme at Premier offers a unique and compelling opportunity.
In the words of many attendees, Gyaan Mela was more than just a school event. It was a meaningful encounter with the power of knowledge, curiosity, and cultural relevance. Through their thought-provoking exhibits and confident presentations, Premier’s IBDP students demonstrated not only what they have learned but how they are learning to think critically, creatively, and compassionately.
