Nepal Schools Review

Across most of November first Champa and then Andy made their first visits back to Kathmandu since we began our work as Nepal Schools Aid. Their attendance at all five of our schools as well as meetings and interactions with the staff and pupils at the schools have given us a broad insight into the situation and needs of them all. The full committee of five trustees will be reviewing the information at our year end meeting in mid December but it seems useful to summarise the main points here for our many supporters who show an active interest in what is happening in Nepal itself. This short write up can not give the full picture however, merely a representation of the overal position:

1. Premises & Infrastructure

Only three of our supported schools have their own buildings giving them that natural sense of security. The remaining two, Sramik and Kesh Chandra are in community or semi-religious buildings which can neither be developed nor permanently guaranteed. All five schools though have extremely cramped classrooms often separated by nothing more than a sheet of plywood. There is little natural light and a sense of "gloomy darkness" in each school. None have any playground areas and only one has any modern technology in the form of some computers. But failing electricity supply has rendered them useless! One, Kesh Chandra doesn't even have a toilet.

2. Staff

All the teachers are dedicated and enthusiastic, they would have to be working under such extreme conditions! Mostly they are poor English speakers. All are on "the minimum wage". Their teaching approach and methodology seemed very good. Their appointments are always by a government ministry, never following interviews by the Head Teacher which is the ultimate in a power crazed and corrupt society.

3. Our grant aided teachers

All three are English speakers but definitely need to improve if they are to market themselves as fluent. They all teach English and Maths and are qualified with teaching qualifications and degrees. The two males, Bashu and Rajendra are 23 years old and the female Malika is 27. We have discovered that but for our salary support two of them would have left the country to find work.

4. In summary

It would seem that we are making a real difference in that we have saved two teachers from going abroad, the number of pupils across these schools has risen by 140 and the "conversion" rate has also increased. In all cases the heads have said that their survival without our material support would be impossible