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Project report

Key Teacher Training Program (2009), Himalaya Nepal , RUN BY: Australian Himalayan Foundation | STATUS: COMPLETED

Teachers participating in the teacher training program

AUD 20,541

Raised from 7,723 people

Project Report

The funding for this project was part of the 1st three year cycle of the AHF Teacher training Quality Education (TTQE) program. The 2nd year of the program cycle included a key teacher training workshop where the most talented teachers were invited to attend an advanced training program that will eventually result in them becoming teacher trainers themselves. The Key teacher training therefore provides the crucial sustainability component of the TTQE program.

The five day workshop in November/December 2009 was attended by 18 teachers from the Khumbu district (Everest district) of the Solu Khumbu region as well as an additional 18 teachers from the relatively poor and under resourced Sotang district (to the south of Khumbu) where the AHF is now focusing its work.

The program has trained teachers to ultimately improve the education of more than 21,000 children in 130 schools in the Khumbu and Sotang districts of Nepal.

Teacher Training Workshop objectives

Teach skills that Key Teachers can use when they visit schools. Observation skills, demonstration lessons, feedback, mediation, conflict resolution.
Review community and school management involvement.
Review with the Key teachers the continuous assessment system (CAS), the School Sector Reform Programme (SSRP), Multigrade and Multilevel teaching (MGML) approach.
Re-emphasise their commitment to and need to assume a leadership role.
Review the past year experiences & Plan activities for the next year.

Workshop Outcomes

Training attendance 100%
Very positive attitude and motivation of the key teachers
The confidence and skills of the key teachers has grown
Year program report back.

What is next for this project?

Following the workshop there was an unqualified request from the teachers for the program to continue be part of the 3rd year of the 1st 3 year program cycle.

In particular Jim Strang the AHF education program coordinator noted

Excellent attitude and commitment shown by participants.
Training team worked well together
Positive appraisal of the course made at the end of the training
Khumbu key teachers enjoyed mentoring the new key teachers, all worked well together
The presence of more female key teachers
The participation of the Resource Teachers from the District Education office.

Is it possible to visit this project?

You can visit many of the schools involved as a member of an AHF support trek, subject to availability and timings by contacting the Australian Himalayan Foundation.

Original project proposal

This project will train a group of 40 key teachers to be teacher trainers to improve the education of more than 12,000 kids in over 130 schools in the Solu Khumbu Himalayan region of Nepal.

Project background

This 2009 Key teacher phase of our Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) project builds on the several years of successful grassroots education projects.

We are very excited to expand this program to the lower regions of the SoluKhumbu that until recently have had little access to quality education opportunities. In particular, the training program will include at least 50% of teachers from this new region who will have to trek for up to week to attend the course.

The Footprints Network is proud to provide funding for the 2009 TTQE program. You can read past project and participant reports here.

The project costs will cover:

The training program for at least 40 primary school teachers to be teacher trainers.
Field costs (including accommodation, food, travel allowance) for key trainers and AHF program coordinator
Supply of much needed materials and resources to the schools

Educational improvements

The Teacher Training, Quality Educational program aims to increase the opportunities for kids in this impoverished Himalayan region by greatly improving:

Teaching and learning levels
The rates of retention and transition into secondary school
An understanding of how students learn through child psychology
Teaching practices that promote critical and creative thinking to engage learners
The availability of trained teachers in all subjects – thus easing a severe shortage
On-going local capacity to train, mentor and supervise other local teachers
Leadership and team-building skills (part of the training session )

Educational issues in this region of Nepal

In the impoverished and remote regions of Solu Khumbu there are very limited opportunities for kids.

With highly unsatisfactory learning outcomes and retention rates, teacher education is the most effective way to combat this. With appropriate teaching methods there is every likelihood that there will be an increase student participation and retention in schools. It also facilitates significant increases in community support (vital for attendance), social cohesion and local involvement in schools.

Better education in turn increases their employment prospects as well as contributing to community well-being.

Community Involvement

The TTQE program is run in conjunction with the local community and experienced volunteers, ensuring sustainable benefits and increased community support.

The AHF project team is led by a highly experienced teacher training coordinator together with a team of Australian volunteer teacher trainers and local Nepalese teacher trainers. All teachers are from the local communities.

Other ways to get involved with this project:

Australian teachers (and other nationalities) can participate as volunteer trainers of key teachers as well as helping with general teacher training. Please contact the AHF

You can also visit some of the 120 schools involved as a member of an AHF support trek (coordinated by World Expeditions), subject to availability and timings.