Looking back to my last entry I realise lots has been happening since then. At the educationdepartment I have twice been part of the training team, admittedly with help from another colleague for some translation, for Early Years facilitators and for trainers of trainers - two busy eight day schedules!
Somewhere in between running these, Roshan and I went out of the valley to Birgunj, taking a 12 minute flight rather than 6 hour drive, where as well as great hospitality and a Friday night in the Kailash.
I went with another vol. to see real community ECD. This meant a 40min public mini bus ride and then a 30min walk out along a rough sandy road, past small mud or bamboo dwellings and an occasional goat, to a centre run by the NGO Seto Gurans. This NGO has been the pioneer in early childhood provision in Nepal since the 80's and for those who are interested in such things, at the end of the 90's it's founder was asked to present at Reggio! The centre uses low cost/no cost locally made materials wherever possible, including some dried maize cobs painted assorted colours.
There are 25, 3-5 yr olds on the role and the day I went all were there. After group time, lots of singing games and stories, the children all went out to a pump to wash before going into the back room for a plate of warm citrus yellow dahl. Mmmmmm!
We then walked less than 1 km to the nearest school. Here there was no ECD class but more than 100 children in the Grade 1 class, some by the size of them as young as 3 and some maybe 9 or even 10. The resources, for these pupils, seemed to be 1 male teacher with a stick and 2 blackboards. In Nepal until this year, pupils in government schools had to pass an "exam" to be able to move up to the next class, thus many pupils will repeat Grade 1 maybe several times. This past year LPP (liberal promotion policy) has been introduced to prevent this glut of pupils staying in the first class but if all are shunted up into class 2 maybe the problem has not been solved just moved - there is a big problem of retention in government schools.
There were 100 children in Grade I, a large number in Grade 2 but by class 5 in this school there were less than 20 and in classes 6 and 7. I saw only 9 pupils in each class. These were almost even numbers of girls and boys in the older classes which would be unusual in KTM but in this small village no money or private schools to send the boys to. Although there is a government policy to have at least one female member of staff in every school (and a toilet specifically for girls) this school seemed to have no female teachers.
The following day I went to another ECD centre run by the same NGO in the town. This one had far more resources and the staff were involved in training although I just missed some resource making workshops. I did see the beginnings of some individual learning profiles and have since shared information and some photos of learning journals from the UK. Thank you staff at Boundstone!
Back in KTM valley the following week - with another vol, another school visit. But first 45mins detour around KTM on the bus (due to traffic blockades…again!) and then the 45min ride out to a village. Then after TWO hours very hard uphill walking, on a rough road and track, we finally reached the school, had some water and just as we expected to see the classes, the headmaster said "look up to the top in the dip that is where we go now to the community ECD!"
And I made it! Certainly the longest uphill I have done since I've been here and not sure that trekking is for me!
Once up there the headmaster proudly showed us a hut, a drum, 2 benches, a young girl teacher with no training, 6 children and a lovely swing made by the local community. No other resources - although I did talk with him recollecting and using some of the fir cones we had passed on our walk.
Since then work for me has been disrupted regularly with students demonstrating and taking over the Department of Education and loudly, firmly encouraging all staff to evacuate and locking the doors behind us! Further disruptions have gone on for the past week and today although the office was meant to open there was a bus bandh (strike). Hopefully the office and buses will be alright tomorrow as lots to do in next week whilst you all you lot are enjoying all that booze and food…and before we fly to meet Josie in Thailand at New Year!
Roshan has already mentioned the food and rum punch on the Embassy lawn after the carol service, and yes, guessing that they could be my only mince pies this Christmas, I made sure I had enough to last me to 2008! So thanks to all who made and paid!
And of course Happy Christmas to all of you too!
More tales of education Nepali-style and what we’re up to in KTM from me soon, love Sheila x
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