Project Background
The Australian Himalayan Foundation’s (AHF) first Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) Program was inspired by the work of Sir Edmund Hillary that has benefited the Khumbu district of Nepal, near Everest, since 1961.
Nepal faces large disparities in literacy rates between urban and rural areas. In addition, teachers in rural Nepal receive little or no training and regularly resort to basic rote-learning methods.
Without access to a quality education, children in remote communities like the Everest region of Nepal remain deprived of the life skills and knowledge gained from education and are more likely to remain trapped in the cycle of poverty. In response to this need, the AHF's flagship TTQE Program is helping to ensure that all children have access to a quality education that can lift them out of poverty.
Project Activities
This project helps to ensure that children living in one of the poorest regions of Nepal have access to inclusive, high quality primary education for improved opportunities now and into the future.
Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) program continues its long running efforts in up skilling teachers, strengthening school governance, providing educational resources and empowering children, women, parents and school committees.
Following an evaluation and project redesign process, 2018/19 was the first year of a new three-year project phase.
TTQE focuses on developing schools to become centres of excellence (model or ‘Namuna’ schools) with quality teachers and educational resources which provide safe and supportive learning environments integrating schools and communities.
A range of activities designed to identify and address the needs of the school community are being implemented including: teacher training, literacy programs; parent volunteer opportunities; facilitating school representatives in planning and milestone setting; support to child-led clubs; and providing materials for classroom and school upgrades.
Project achievements
The key achievements in 2018/19 included:
- 1,553 students (790 girls) at 14 schools accessed improved quality education via TTQE schools
- 860 children in grades 1-3 were provided with literacy materials
- 34 children accessed improved nutrition via school meals pilot program
- 489 very vulnerable children received financial and material assistance to continue schooling
- 180 students and 60 teachers received orientation in hygiene practices, and new hand washing facilities provided at 7 schools
Project partners
TTQE is implemented on the ground by AHF local NGO partner REED (Rural Education and Environment Development Centre) Nepal with technical support from AHF in project design, management and monitoring and evaluation.
Project feedback
“I was naïve before training but now it’s comfortable to look after 14 young kids. Six learning corners in Early Childhood Educational Development (ECED) room mean students can choose playing and learning materials of their interest. Our ECED classes are now in line with standards of early childhood development”.
– Tika Rai, an ECED teacher in Solukhumbu Nepal
What next?
TTQE is an ongoing project based in Solukhumbu Nepal.
Can you visit the project?
AHF can make special arrangements for supported visits to projects depending on the current priorities and resources of our NGO partner and the schools at the time.
Project Background
The Australian Himalayan Foundation’s (AHF) first Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) Program was inspired by the work of Sir Edmund Hillary that has benefited the Khumbu district of Nepal, near Everest, since 1961.
Nepal faces large disparities in literacy rates between urban and rural areas. In addition, teachers in rural Nepal receive little or no training and regularly resort to basic rote-learning methods.
Without access to a quality education, children in remote communities like the Everest region of Nepal remain deprived of the life skills and knowledge gained from education and are more likely to remain trapped in the cycle of poverty. In response to this need, the AHF's flagship TTQE Program is helping to ensure that all children have access to a quality education that can lift them out of poverty.
Project Overview
The heart of the TTQE program remains in providing better opportunities in life for children in the remote Himalayan mountains through quality, inclusive education. As such, the program continues its long running efforts in Nepal by up-skilling teachers, strengthening school governance, providing educational resources and empowering children, women, parents and school committees.
The long-term objective of the TTQE program is to help over 42,000 children and 1700 teachers in over 300 schools in remote, rural areas.
The TTQE Program piloted the development of ‘Namuna’ or model schools and early grades literacy improvement; and in the past year, the project reported a dramatic increase in learning achievement in Nepali in the pilot schools by 12.5% above the district average of 59.2%. As a part of the program, the AHF also supported Nepalese partner, REED Nepal, to carry out the gender and disability inclusion analysis for this project.
The following outcomes were achieved in 2017/18:
- 20,264 students in 239 schools benefited from this program
- 1569 teachers benefited from mentoring and training
- 401 teachers benefited from in service beginner and refresher training
- 196 schools received support with educational resources
- 8 schools received training, materials and mentoring in early grades literacy improvement
- 7 schools received ICT support
What's Covered in Project Cost
The project costs support AHF’s community partner REED in Nepal to travel to the Everest region to provide training and in-school support to the teachers and schools in the Solukhumbu region. This involves:
- holding subject-specific training workshops;
- provision of relevant training materials;
- travel costs and fees for trainers;
- teaching aids and resources; and
- monitoring and evaluation of the program.
Partners & Community Involvement
Accredited by the Nepalese Government’s National Centre for Education Development and implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Education, AHF’s Teacher Training and Quality Education program is recognised as one of the most comprehensive education programs in Nepal.
TTQE is implemented on the ground by the AHF’s Nepalese NGO partner REED Nepal with the technical support from the AHF in program design, management, monitoring and evaluation.
Monitoring and evaluation systems target underperforming schools and closely monitor teachers to encourage better outcomes through in-school support, which continues to be an effective means of supporting implementation of the training. Trainers from REED visit the schools in remote communities to observe the training in-school and provide valuable feedback and ongoing support.
The Australian Himalayan Foundation is a registered charitable organisation, a member of the Australian Council for International Development and accredited by the official Australian Aid program (DFAT).
Part of a Larger Strategy
The TTQE program now operates in every single district and reaches every single school in the lower Solukhumbu or Everest region. This achievement is part of a fifteen-year vision the AHF has for the region – one aimed squarely at improving the quality of and the access to a life changing education. As a part of TTQE, we piloted the development of ‘Namuna’ or model schools. These schools are already reporting increased motivation and accountability of teachers and school committees.
An early grades literacy program in Nepali language commenced in 8 schools. Training to teachers on literacy improvement was supplemented by appropriate learning materials and intensive follow up. This resulted in a dramatic increase in the average learning achievement in Nepali language.
This represents the next phase of delivery for the TTQE program following on from a previous Footprints Network project: Provide Teacher Training and Quality Education in Nepal. The model schools and literacy improvement will be expanded to more schools in the next year.