Charity’s Resolve to help in Nepal
AWEST Lancashire charity was invited to celebrate the opening of five school libraries in Nepal as part of an ambitious education programme in the country.
The Resolve International charity was invited by the Baglung district education officer to make its Quality Primary Education programme available to all schools in the district and to all schools in the country.
Keith Laycock, chairman of the charity, was guest of honour at the offi- cial opening of new libraries at five schools in Pala, Western Nepal.
He said: “It was slightly bewildering to be the centre of such attention.”
He was preceded by musicians playing drums, cymbals and Tibetan style long trumpets and was followed by the district education officer and head teachers, officials and local politicians.
The event lasted several hours, with speeches by all the official guests.
Students had written songs about how great it is to have a library in their school and the difference it is making in their lives.
Mr Laycock travelled to the schools with a Nepalese consultant to assess the project’s progress.
Primary education in government schools generally produces poor results, so Resolve International with local organisation Nepal Gaja Development Foundation tested reading and comprehension at the start of the project and found that students in grades one and two had limited reading or comprehension skills.
Remedial teaching was given for one month to improve reading skills.
Short courses with support were provided for teachers at the five schools including; library management, materials development and child-friendly teaching.
Mr Laycock said: “The results have been surprisingly good so far.”
The one year pilot project is funded by a grant of £32,800 from the British and Foreign School Society.
Most rural schools do not have libraries or access to additional reading materials. Those that have books usually lock them away to keep them safe.
Mr Laycock said: “We interviewed teachers, students and parents at each of the schools in this pilot project and were amazed at the difference the project has made to the life of the schools.”
Reading and comprehension has improved, students behave better in class and teachers enjoy using the teaching techniques they have learnt.
Classes are much more interactive than they used to be and lots of pictures and students work are on display in the classrooms.
If you would like to know more about the work of Resolve International or support its work, visit: www.resolveinter national.org