Pokhara networking visit

Last week, Roger and I travelled 7 hours by bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara ( where we lived when the children were small).This was a work trip and we had separate programmes arranged which took 5 days. The monsoon is still causing heavy rain and thunderstorms and in Pokhara the rain was torrential, but usually in the evenings so we got some good views of the Himalayas early in the morning.

I visited Amer Singh school, the only government one in the country with a specialist unit for blind and partially sighted students . The students come long distances and board in the hostel from the ages of about 6 until their secondary education is complete. Those from remote regions only return home once a year in the long vacation. On arrival they are taught braille and mobility and once they mastered these they enter the main school at whichever grade is appropriate for their ability. The students have 1:1 support in class, help from a teacher after school for homework and read both English and Nepali braille. Exams are sat with the help of a reader. Computer provision requires improvement and I hope to be able to mobilise some support for

this in the future.

A 14 year old student demonstrating his Braille reading skills

Gandaki boarding school was founded by UMN in collaboration with the King and the Nepali Government 50 years ago. The aim was to provide a western style education to students who would then work in the burgeoning tourist industry around Pokhara. From modest beginnings as  a small boys boarding school, it is now the top performing school in Nepal, Ten years ago, in line with its government agreements, UMN handed it over to a Nepali management board and it is now a not for profit organisation. It has a dedicated scholarship department providing school fees and all clothes, food, accomodation and equipment to 25 exceptionally able boys and girls each year from extremely poor backgounds. I had the privilege of talking to some of the scholarship A level students and there stories, achievements and aspirations were inspirational.

 The Principal, Mr Baral, honoured me by asking me to speak to assembly when all 1400 of his students assembled outside in the bright sunlight . After discussions with the Principal I spoke briefly at a staff meeting on teaching and learning issues and have been invited back to run a staff training day in November. As well as a tour of the school I was delighted to have the chance to talk with the A level students about preparing their university applications. It was an altogether lovely day!

Speaking at assembly

On another day It was fascinating to talk with Plan-International staff in Pokhara about their extensive and pioneering new education project designed, like UMN's ediucation work, to improve the standards of teaching and learning in government schools. Working closely with the District education Officers, they hope to make improvements in early years literacy that can then be replicated nationally. Particularly interesting were their strategies to engage illiterate parents in helping their children learn to read and write.  The children from very poor families are usually expected to come home from school and just continue with their household or agricultural work. On a positive note, primary school enrollment is now much improved, up to 100% in some areas. Retention and achievement measures are not so encouraging. Because any Nepali families who can afford it, send their children, especially their boys, to private schools, improvements in the government schools help the poorest children in the country.

On a much smaller scale, I visited a small project run by some Nepali friends who help 150 very poor children to access education by providing books, equipment and uniforms for them. They also run a hostel where children from remote regions can stay so they can attend good government secondary schools.I wanted to know the actual cost of educating  a child in the government schools where tuition and  text books are now free. I discovered that many schools  charge enrollment fees, computer use fees, fees for sporting activities, exam fees and even sometimes for "furniture".This is, of course, undermining the Government commitment to provide free education for all students. 

Learning about the actual cost of "free" schooling