Our Training Philosophy

Quality Education Nepal and its teacher training NGO in Nepal (LEARN = "Lifting Education, Advancing Rural Nepal") are committed to uplifting rural life of Nepali people through transforming education.

An ultimate goal is to foster rural economies and thus stem the tide of migration to cities and abroad.

Our programs are directed to teachers of groups of schools in Myagdi District, such as those of an Education Department Resource Centre or a Rural Municipality.  These generally comprise one or two high schools and their associated feeder primary schools.  All teachers are invited to attend, with participation rates around 90%.  The selection of school areas is undertaken in conjunction with the Department of Education.

Training programs are preceded by base line surveys to assess the education and training of the teachers and the situations in their schools, including physical infrastructure and resources.

Based on the preliminary studies LEARN offers free basic level teacher training to all the teachers of the program area. The training program focuses on best teaching and learning practices, classroom management, culture building, student evaluation, information and technology in education.  Subject based training includes English, Nepali, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Information and Communications Technology, and Arts and Crafts.

Training is delivered by well qualified (Masters degree), experienced Nepalese teachers who have the language, culture and curriculum knowledge to deliver the most effective training.  We believe this to be more effective (in both cost and outcomes) than training by foreign volunteers.

The LEARN approach in training ensures that the training addresses the participants’ requirements.  It engages participants in active and cooperative learning activities, is active, fun-based and goal directed.  Participants evaluate their learning and provide feedback to help LEARN improveits services.

The evolution of our approach

  • Following his ascent of Everest in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary built numerous schools in Eastern Nepal

  • With George Lowe he recognised schools alone were not enough – they needed properly trained teachers

  • With Jim Strang of New Zealand they embarked on the development of teacher training

  • Hillary’s NZ Himalayan Trust was involved, joined later by the UK Himalayan Trust, Australian Himalayan Foundation and other organisations

  • Rural Education and Environment Development (REED) was established to deliver training, primarily in Solu Khumbu district

  • In 2011 Nepali Village Initiatives Association Inc. of Australia (now Quality Education Nepal Inc.) engaged REED to deliver training in Myagdi District, Western Nepal

  • In 2014 NVIA fostered the establishment of LEARN as a new NGO to carry on these training programs

  • LEARN is directed by a Nepalese Board headed by Dr Umed Pun and is administered by CEO Krishna Pun and Training Officer Gopal Dhungel

  • LEARN now has 220 teachers in ongoing training, with a target of 1,000 by 2020

What it entails

  • The teachers of local groups of rural schools are brought together for training at the local high school (40-80 teachers from 8-12 schools per group)

  • In the first year the program comprises:
    • a Baseline Survey to assess needs
    • 2-day Orientation Program for the school community (School Management Committees, Parent Teacher Associations)
    • 10-day Basic Training program
    • in-school review of teachers’ progress
      (after a practice period)
    • 6-day Refresher Training
  • The training cycle is repeated over the next two years, progressing from basic teaching methods to subject-oriented content

  • Teachers return for Refresher Training annually thereafter

  • Key Teachers, selected by their peers, receive extra training to act as in-school mentors

Beneficiaries

  • The teachers
  • Their students, current and future
  • The wider village communities