The Australian Himalayan Foundation works in partnership with the people of the Himalaya to help the most disadvantaged meet their priority needs through integrated improvements in education, health and the environment.
Established in 2005, AHF’s flagship Teacher Training and Quality Inclusive Education (TTQIE) project is helping to ensure that children living in one of the poorest regions of Nepal have access to inclusive, high-quality education. AHF works with its partner REED Nepal to improve opportunities through education.
The project includes a range of activities including: teacher training; literacy programs; parent volunteer opportunities; support to child-led clubs; and providing materials for classroom and school upgrades.
Without access to quality education, children in remote communities like the Everest region of Nepal are deprived of essential life skills and knowledge gained from education. For these children, even to complete primary school is a significant achievement. Every year of schooling has a tangible and measurable academic outcome, influences future earnings, and offers protection from child labor, early marriage and human trafficking. A key part of our work is focused on addressing gender equality, disability inclusion and child safeguarding.
TTQIE focuses on developing schools in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal to become centres of excellence (Namuna schools) with quality teachers and educational resources which provide safe and supportive learning environments.
The project goal is to achieve inclusive and quality education for all children in TTQIE schools in Solukhumbu, including during emergencies, along with key activities that will support:
The target indicators for the project include 100% of TTQIE schools average learning achievements exceeding the national averages for grades 1-3 in numeracy and literature; grade 3 reading proficiency and grades 4-8 STEM subjects, by the end of the project. In addition:
- All TTQIE schools achieve at least 90% average student attendance rate by the end of the project period
- At least 90% of students who have completed basic education (grade 8) retained till grade 10 in all 31 TTQIE secondary schools
- 100% TTQIE schools achieved at least 90% rate of students graduating (not repeating) and moving to next grade
- Increased enrollment, attendance and retention (year to year) rate of disadvantaged students (girls, CwD) in each of 100 schools
- Students from 100 TTQIE schools in 7 rural municipalities have accessed continued education through alternative modes during emergencies
The new education project will pay particular attention to promoting gender equality and equity, as well as improving child safeguarding, and preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and youth suicide
2020-2021 key achievements
The delivery of the TTQE program was impacted through COVID-19 but in 2020/2021, your donation, in conjunction with funding from private donors and the Australian government helped achieve the following significant outcomes:
- 1,750 children (895 female) in 11 Namuna Schools accessing improved educational facilities, learning support and classroom resources
- 736 children (349 female) in 14 schools receiving early grade literacy materials and support
- 286 parent volunteers (195 female) engaged in supporting their children’s reading groups at school
- 189 teachers from across 100 schools trained in English, Maths, Science or Early Childhood Education
- 1,051 people accessed hygiene and COVID-19
- 80 radios distributed to the most vulnerable children to ensure access to radio lessons so both children could continue their education, and whole families could hear COVID safety messages
- 5,655 children (2903 girls and 2752 boys) from grade ECED to grade three received workbooks and learning materials to support distance learning
- 63 local teachers (43 female and 20 male, including one Person with disability) were mobilised at 63 EMS schools and 969 children including 9 children with disabilities received support from these teachers to continue their education
- 15 additional children who became extremely vulnerable due to the COVID-19 crisis were identified and supported
- REED distributed soap, hand sanitisers, masks to 100 EMS schools. These protective materials have supported children 14,089 (7,184 girls and 6,905 boys)
- 168 children (81 Boys and 87 Girls) at four schools continued the school food program providing nutritious meals after schools were reopened, assisting with school attendance and retention
- In the April 2020-March 2021 school year, 339 students (217 girls) were supported with Going to School Support
How did the project fit into a larger strategy?
All activities undertaken worked towards four key objectives:
- Develop Namuna Schools that can serve as models to other schools across the district
- Improve children’s competency in Nepali literacy in early years
- Improve teacher skills and learning outcomes in the three main foundational subjects of English, Maths and Science
- Provide scholarships and other support to very disadvantaged and marginalised children (Going to School Support, GSS).
Project background
The Australian Himalayan Foundation works in partnership with the people of the Himalaya to help the most disadvantaged meet their priority needs through integrated improvements in education, health and the environment.
Without access to quality education, children in the remote communities like the Everest region of Nepal are deprived of essential life skills and knowledge gained from education, and are more likely to remain trapped in the cycle of poverty.
Project overview
Established in 2005, AHF’s flagship Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) program is helping 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.
TTQE focuses on developing schools in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal to become centres of excellence (Namuna schools) with quality teachers and educational resources, and provide safe and supportive learning environment - integrating schools and community members.
AHF works with its partner REED Nepal to continuously improve opportunities through education.
Following an evaluation and a project redesign, 2018/19 was the first year of a new three-year plan. The key achievements during that year were:
- 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; and
- 180 students and 60 teachers received orientation in hygiene practices, and new hand washing facilities provided at 7 schools.
Furthermore, the focus for 2020 will continue to be:
- The development of ‘Namuna’ schools which serve as models to other schools around the district;
- To improve children’s competency in Nepali literacy in early years;
- Improve learning outcomes in the three main foundational subjects: Science, Maths and English; and
- Provide scholarships and other support to very marginalized and disadvantaged children.
What's covered in project cost
The program costs 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 and volunteer teachers.
- 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 recognized as one of the most comprehensive education programs in Nepal.
TTQE is implemented by the AHF’s Nepalese NGO partner REED Nepal with technical support from 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 support the implementation of 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
AHF’s flagship Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) program continues to deliver on its long term goal of providing better opportunities in life for children in the remote Solukhumbu region of Nepal through improving the quality of education.
This is achieved through the upskilling of teachers, strengthening and school governance, providing educational resources, and empowering children, women, parents and community members.
We are continuing to work with REED to identify and address the key barriers to children attending school. This includes building a community that facilitates and encourages:
- education;
- 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.
The program has also made several efforts to ensure gender inclusion and retention of women and girls in education including Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) orientation training, as well as address the special needs of children with disabilities.