Project Background
The Australian Himalayan Foundation's Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) project has a track record of successful grassroots education projects over several years in the Solukhumbu Region of the Himalaya.
The program involves three phases:
- The teaching of Key Teachers to become teacher-trainers
- Local teacher training - run by the Key Teachers
- Refresher courses and ongoing mentorship
In 2008 at the request of local communities, the reach of this
cost-effective education program has been extended to the lower valley
region and a further 40 key teachers and 200 local teachers from 50 schools will be
trained - in total, over 8000 kids will benefit from a better education.
You can read reports of past TTQE projects that Footprints has funded here.
The project costs will cover:
- The training of approx 190 Nepalis as teachers
- Training materials
- Specific materials and resources to the schools
Project Aims and outcomes
The Teacher Training and Quality Education project program greatly improves teaching and learning levels and the rates of retention and transition into secondary school, thus improving the opportunities for children in this impoverished and remote Himalayan region. It also
- Teaches child psychology and an understanding of how students learn. Teaching practices will promote higher-order critical and creative thinking to actively engage learners.
- Helps greatly to ease the severe shortage of trained teachers in all subjects
- Is run in conjunction with the local communities and experienced volunteers, ensuring sustainable benefits and increased community support.
The provision of specific requested and needed resources and assistance to particular schools will also increase the teaching and learning skills in schools, and improve the education of the kids of the region.
Educational issues in the Himalaya Region
In the impoverished and remote communities of the Solukhumbu, there are very limited future opportunities for kids.
With highly unsatisfactory learning outcomes and retention rates, teacher education is the most effective way to increase student participation, achievement, and retention in schools, especially when coupled with provision of specific, vital assistance and resources. It also facilitates significant increases in community support (vital for attendance and retention rates), social cohesion and local involvement in the schools.
Better education in turn increases their job and economic prospects and community leadership and income-gaining skills, and greatly assists community well-being.
Community Involvement
The AHF project team is led by a teacher training coordinator who is highly experienced in this profession and region, a group of Australian volunteer teacher trainers and the strong local support of local Nepali teacher trainers. All teachers trained are from the local communities.
Part of a larger project
This project will fund one phase of the 2008 TTQE program ('refresher training').
The three phases of the TTQE program combined will cover the training of about
80 Key primary school teachers to be teacher trainers themselves, with on-going monitoring
responsibilities. They will subsequently train approximately 400 local Nepalis in about
120 schools to be teachers. In total, nearly 8,000 kids
will receive a better, longer education. The schools will also receive
broader education assistance.
Can I visit this project?
You can visit some of the 120 or so schools involved on specific occasions as a member of an AHF support trek (coordinated by World Expeditions), subject to availability and timing.
Australian (and others) who are qualified teachers can participate as volunteer trainers of Key Teachers, and of other local teachers. Contact the Australian Himalayan Foundation
