Currently, this program is on hold
The promotion of literacy and numeracy skills, the USAID Early Grade Learning program is supporting 482 local governments (LGs) across 48 districts of Nepal. USAID Early Grade Learning will collaborate with municipalities to improve parental and community engagement in early grade education. Special emphasis will be placed on marginalized communities to understand barriers and aspirations for involvement in children’s education. Across 48 Districts, REED Nepal has been working in 14 Districts (Bagmati and Koshi Provinces) where 60 Municipalities are the working areas. The names of the districts are: Udayapur, Taplejung, Khotang, Bhojpur, Panchtahr, Dhankuta, Trehathum, Makawanpur, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchock, Ramechhap, and Bhaktapur.
USAID Early Grade Learning will implement low/no-cost parental support activities to assist in children’s learning. Similarly, both grant and non-grant recipient schools (totaling 18,000) will have equal access to receive Teacher Professional Support (TPS). All early grade teachers will have the right to receive Integrated Curriculum training. Enhancing the literacy and numeracy skills of children, reading camps, parent awareness campaigns, project-based learning, and flipped classrooms are part of the intensive support package for schools.
The objective of USAID Early Grade Learning is to strengthen the capacity of federal, provincial, and municipal governments to improve learning outcomes in Grades 1-3. Specifically, it aims to:
Schools Engaged: 2558 (14 Districts from Koshi and Bagmati Provinces)
Worming Municipalities: 117 (14 Districts from Koshi -57 and Bagmati-60 Provinces)
Key Highlights of the Activities
REED Nepal recruited 25 Local Education Unit (LEU) Coordinators. They have been successfully relocated to their designated districts and municipalities (Palikas), ensuring each area has dedicated personnel to oversee and support program activities. Additionally, two Senior LEU Coordinators were deployed in their respective fields. In total, 27 staff were recruited through a vacancy announcement, written test, and interview process, following DEIA criteria.
The local education unit (LEU) coordinators and senior LEU Coordinators have participated in annul work plan and capacity need assessment tools (AWP) orientation at Bhaktapur (Hotel Heritage). This workshop was designed to enhance capacity AWP and capacity need assessment tools to proper implementation and manage the program. One day staff orientation was conducted to the newly recruited staffs for the USAID EGL Program. In this orientation, the REED Nepal's policy, compliances, duty stations, organizational information, safeguard polices, and admin/finance policies and procedure were discussed and shared among the 26 staffs of USAID.
The USAID Early Grade Learning Program is being successfully implemented with the aim to enhance early-grade learning among learners across all 14 districts of Koshi and Bagmati Province. Annual Work Plan (AWP), Local Level Capacity Development (LLCD) workshop was conducted by Chemonics Nepal/USAID Early Grade Learning to capacitate the LEU heads of 117 LOCAL LEVELS of Bagmati and Koshi province during April 2024.
The major outputs of the workshop:
USAID Early Grade Learning program has three objectives to promote quality education by strengthening the Local, federal and province level. At the same time, Local Education Unit Coordinators (LEUCs) visited the respective local levels of Bagmati and Koshi Province at117 local levels to collect the information related to LEU capacity. The information was filled in Kobo tools- 117 (Koshi 57 LGs and 60 Bagmati LGs) as guided by Chemonics Nepal/USAID EGL Program. While filling up the data and information, LEUCs identified the gaps and missing parts in education plans of respective Local Governments (LGs).
To orient on USAID Early Grade Learning including its goal, mission, vision, and objectives, it was conducted one day inception meeting in Koshi and Bagmati provinces. The newly added districts (L3) are Makawanpur, Panchthar, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, Terathum and Udayapur. The key participants of L3 districts were Education Development Director from Bagmati Province, Secretary from Social Development Ministry of Bagmati Province, local representatives: Mayor/Deputy mayor, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and Local Education Unit (LEU) Heads, Head Teachers, Experts, Teachers, SMC representatives, NTF, LGBTQIA, PTA, OPD and concerned stakeholders. The objective of the meeting was to inform the working modality of USAID Early Grade Learning and share the structures and service delivery of the project.
To discuss the current situation of the school, the USAID Early Grade Learning team (COP, DOP, REED Nepal CEO, Senior LEUC, Province Technical Advisor, and LEUC) visited Pashupati Secondary School in Manahari Rural Municipality, Makwanpur, on May 21, 2024. The Chief of Party (CoP) and Director of Program (DoP) interacted with the Parents Teacher Association (PTA), School Management Committee (SMC), Head Teacher (HT), and teachers. After observing and interacting at Pashupati Secondary School, they suggested improvements in classroom management, numeracy, and literacy skills. The team also appreciated the regular involvement of the SMC chairperson at the school.
USAID Early Grade learning has been formulating the loose forum as the Community of Practice (CoP) in each district. Based on these, Early Grade Learning program has been organized a meeting with the presence of the Education Development and Coordination Unit (EDCU), Local Education Unit (LEU) Head, LGBTQI, Disabilities Forum/Network/NARMIN/MUAN/Early Grade Teachers, Elected Representatives and others key stakeholders. The focus of this activity was to formulate a loose forum for sharing best practices and challenges quarterly.
Early Screening Training
Early screening training to the LGs of Bagmati and Koshi Province supported in updated the students record in EMIS system. 7 Local Governments (LGs) organized the Early screening training in Koshi and Bagmati Provinces. This training supported identifying the children status in Early Grade Learners. At one point, it trained the teachers that helped in implementing the evidence-based result of disability kept in IEMIS record.
Grant Under Contract (GUC)
Bagmati Province and Koshi Provinces (15 LGs): USAID Early Grade Learning supported the Grants in Bagamati and Koshi provinces. 296 Schools (160 Bagmati Province 136 Koshi Province) rewarded from the Grants. The implementing partner is REED Nepal. Beginning parts was the orientation and then rewarded. Some of the RMs were as mentioned below;
Uttargaya RM-Rasuwa, Suraygadhi RM-Nuwakot, Golanjor RM-Sindhuli, Likhu Tamakoshi RM-Ramechhap, Bhotekoshi RM and Indrawati RMs-Sindhupalchock., Temkemaiyung RM, Pauwadungma RM-Bhojpur, Pathivara Yangwarak, Aathrai Triveni Rural Municipality-Taplejung, Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality-Khotang, Menchhayayem Rural Municipality-Terathum and Hillihang Rural Municipality-Panchthar Districts.
Reflection of ReAL Plan Data in EMIS-Semjong Basic School-Rasuwa
Mr.Shiva Prasad Devkota is the dedicated Head Teacher of Semjong Basic School in Daraghari, Rasuwa. He has served in the school for over a decade. Despite the challenges, Mr. Devkota has always been committed to utilizing the allocated funds of Government of Nepal effectively. He was curious to implement the ReAL Plan implementation in the school. He was seeking technical support a year ago. He knew that the USAID Early Grade Learning (EGL) project has been working in Rasuwa District to promote learning outcomes of Grade 1-3 children. He was intending to organize a day of orientation on ReAL plan in the school. He believed that ReAL plan orientation was supported by recording the children status in EMIS by using diagnostic tools. Based on the result, the supported class will be organized.
USAID Early Grade Learning project supported education planning, community practice, parenting education (SMC/PTA), disability early screening, and the ReAL Plan as well. At his efforts on implementation ReAL plan, he met Nakunda RM-LEU head frequently. The initiation taken by LEU Head of Nakunda RM planned to organize the ReAL plan orientation on December 03, 2024, where 29 community schools of Naukunda RM’s head teachers were participated, and the session was facilitated by USAID Early Grade Learning technical person.
Mr. Devkota invited the USAID Early Grade Learning project staff to support the ReAL plan implementation in his school. He called a meeting with the SMC members on December 18, 2024. The SMC members decided to orient the school’s staff on the ReAL Plan and EMIS system. Following this decision, Mr. Devkota organized a one-day orientation at Semjong Basic School in Rasuwa. Six teachers were oriented on the ReAL Plan. During the orientation, teachers learned how to use diagnostic tools and upload students results into the EMIS record.
Semjong Basic School updated the ReAL implementation data in EMIS when USAID Early Grade Learning project staff trained the teachers. Mr. Devkota gave big applause to the USAID Early Grade Learning project. For his effort, ReAL plan was intervention in the school.
Community of Practice (CoP) as the Transformative Collaboration
Based on USAID Early Grade Learning, the success story generated from the CoP meeting in Dhankuta on June 17, 2024, highlighted significant achievements and collaborative efforts in early grade education.
During the CoP meeting, ECDU Dhankuta presented its annual progress report, offering a transparent overview of achievements, ongoing projects, and challenges faced in the past year. This comprehensive report provided valuable insights into the educational landscape of Dhankuta, emphasizing both accomplishments and areas needed for improvement.
One of the key discussions was centered around resource constraints and logistical challenges. That open dialogue triggered for the immediate action from stakeholders to address the resource constrtraints. Representatives from the Nepal Teacher Federation and the Federation of Parents quickly mobilized to address the identified resource gaps by identifying additional resources; and organizing volunteer support. This proactive and collaborative response demonstrated the community’s strong commitment to overcoming challenges together, showcasing the power of transparent communication and cooperation.
The CoP meeting served as a platform for transformative collaboration within the educational sector. Bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event fostered a rich exchange of ideas, transparent reporting, and strategic planning. Success stories shared during the meeting underscored the importance of collective action and illustrated the community's unwavering dedication to enhancing early grade education in Dhankuta.
Through continued collaboration and shared efforts, Dhankuta is making significant strides towards establishing a more effective and inclusive education system. This collective effort ensured that every child in Dhankuta had the opportunity to receive a quality education; and thrived in their learning journey. The CoP meeting exemplified how partnerships and cooperation could drive positive change; and create sustainable impact in early grade learning, supported by initiatives under USAID's program. The participants were thankful to Chemonics Nepal/USAID Early Grade Learning Program.
