Project background
Inspired by the outstanding work of Sir Edmund Hillary that continues to benefit the Everest (Khumbu) district of Nepal, the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) launched it’s Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) program in 2005.
The program aims to empower and provide better opportunities for children in poverty through access to a quality, inclusive, and enriching education. The long term goal is to lift the children of Nepal out of poverty.
TTQE came about in response to Nepal’s alarmingly imbalanced literacy rates between urban and rural areas of the region, as well as the little to no training that the teachers receive in rural Nepal. This has led to the children in Nepal being unable to gain the knowledge and skills acquired from having access to a quality education. As a result, children in these remote communities often remain trapped in poverty.
Project activities
The AHF has delivered the Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) in the remote Solukhumbu region of Nepal since 2005. The program strives to provide quality, inclusive education toe the children in this region. AHF works with its NGO partner REED Nepal to continuously improve opportunities through education.
Following an evaluation and project redesign process, 2018/19 was the first year of a new three-year project phase. In this year, REED and the Namuna schools conducted needs assessments to develop plans and milestones across a range of initiatives for a better learning environment, increased parent engagement and improved student retention.
Child Club networks were reactivated and supported to deliver activities on waste management and hygiene awareness. School Management Committees, Parent Teacher Associations and teachers and students have built knowledge about the importance of education, gender and social inclusion, child safeguarding and literacy that supports the implementation of the Namuna Schools approach.
Teacher capacity has been increased in literacy, early childhood teaching, English, Maths and Science. In addition, children with disabilities are accessing literacy and Namuna school initiatives with the employment and continued support of a teacher who herself is hearing impaired.
Project results
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 feedback
“Our students have improved their habit of sanitation after being provided with shoe racks and carpet in the room. They are practicing at home as well. Students was their legs and take off their shoes before entering classrooms. The introduction of a book corner has encouraged reading within class hours”.
Nala Bahadur Rai, Grade 2 teacher Solukhumbu Nepal
What next?
TTQE is an ongoing project based in Solukhumbu Nepal.
Project visits
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
Inspired by the outstanding work of Sir Edmund Hillary that continues to benefit the Everest (Khumbu) district of Nepal, the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) launched it’s Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) program in 2005.
The program aims to empower and provide better opportunities for children in poverty through access to a quality, inclusive, and enriching education. The long term goal is to lift the children of Nepal out of poverty.
TTQE came about in response to Nepal’s alarmingly imbalanced literacy rates between urban and rural areas of the region, as well as the little to no training that the teachers receive in rural Nepal. This has led to the children in Nepal being unable to gain the knowledge and skills acquired from having access to a quality education. As a result, children in these remote communities often remain trapped in poverty.
Project overview
Since 2005, the program has extended from the lower Khumbu area to the whole lower Solukhumbu district in Nepal. The AHF continues to develop schools that provide teaching from highly trained teachers, and educational resources that promote safe and supportive learning communities. To date, their work has reached approximately 268 schools, 1800 teachers, and 30,000 children in the area.
In the past year, the AHF has striven to provide inclusive education, opportunity, and governance for everyone in the region of Nepal in which the TTQE program is delivered. This has included empowering women in school governance, addressing the special needs of children with disabilities, and improving the inclusion and retention of girls in education.
The following outcomes were achieved in 2018/19:
- 910 children provided with hygiene kits
- 100 schools improved in maths and science learning achievements
- 66 teachers strengthened their literacy skills
- 42 schools implemented an effective reading program with functional libraries, reading corners, and book reading initiatives
- 7 Namuna (model) schools were established in the region
- 7 schools received Disaster Risk Reduction training
What's covered in project cost
The $15,000 raised by the Footprints Network will cover:
- Supporting AHF community partner REED to travel to the Everest region for training and in-school support
- Teaching resources and aids
- Training workshops
- Provision of training materials
- Travel costs and other fees for trainers
- Funding related to program monitoring and evaluation
Partners and 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.
On the ground, TTQE is put into motion by the AHF’s Nepalese NGO partner REED Nepal with technical support provided by the AHF in areas such as program design, management, monitoring and evaluation. Monitoring and evaluating under performing schools and teachers encourages better outcomes through in-school support, which continues to be an effective means to impltement teacher 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 Australian Himalayan Foundation seeks to provide an inclusive education to everyone in the lower Solukhumbu region of Nepal. The TTQE program has made several efforts to ensure gender inclusion and retention of women and girls in education. For example, it has provided menstrual hygiene kits to maintain attendance for girls in school, researched and addressed gender barriers to education, carried out Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) orientation to seven schools, and more. The program also addresses the special needs of children with disabilities.
TTQE forms a key part of the Australian Himalayan Foundation's committment to working with Himalayan communities for better education, improved health and environmental sustainability.
This project follows on from previous Footprints Network project: Support Teacher Training and Quality Education in Nepal.