“Based on USAID’s Education Strategy and local assessments that found extremely low reading scores despite high primary school enrollment, USAID shifted to a leading role in advocating for early grade reading to be on the national education reform agenda,” informed USAID’s official release on August 08, 2017.

As part of its plan, USAID directly channels assistance through host country systems to support the implementation and scale up Nepal’s Early Grade Reading Assessment (NEGRA).

USAID’s education strategy and local assessments pointed at specific areas of need to improve early grade reading. The agency found extremely low reading scores despite high primary school enrollment in Nepal and hence, pitched for inclusion of early grade reading on Nepal’s education reform agenda.

Citing its assessment on NEGRA, the agency said that the majority of Nepali students read far below international standards and 55 percent of Grade II children, whose mother tongue was not Nepali scored zero, on reading assessments.

Teachers Lack Proper Training

According to USAID, even the teaching staff have only a minimal command on evidence-based instructional techniques for teaching to the students at early grade reading level.

Under its objective, the agency intends to introduce evidence-based EGR instructional materials & train teachers of Grades I-III on the use of provided materials, improve classroom-based EGR assessment processes in target districts, institutionalize policies, standards that support improved EGR instruction and outcomes and strengthen capability of parent-teacher associations & school management committees to contribute to improved early grade reading outcomes.

It is noteworthy there is already a School Sector Development Plan (SSDP) 2016-2023 that serves as the Government of Nepal’s education sector strategy and supports Nepal’s vision to graduate from the status of a least developed country by 2030.

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As part of the deal, Japanese Government will be offering a grant of Rs 280 million to the School Sector Development Program (SSDP) of Nepal.

An agreement in this regard was signed in a meeting between the Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Shanta Raj Subedi and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Masashi Ogawa, held at the Ministry of Finance in Kathmandu, yesterday.

Joint Secretary Baikuntha Aryal and Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Jun Sakuma exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance.

SSDP, being implemented by the Department of Education, is a continuation of the School Sector Reform Program (SSRP) that aims to improve the quality and efficiency of basic and secondary education of Nepal.

Earlier in the month, the United States agency USAID had also revealed its initiative towards the development of the Nepali education sector.

USAID, citing its education strategy and local assessments, pointed out at gaps in the education system of Nepal, especially in the early grade reading. In this regard, it urged the Government of Nepal to include early grade reading in its education reform agenda.

Stating that it found extremely-low reading scores in Nepal despite high primary school enrolment, USAID said it would take a leading role in advocating for early grade reading to be on Nepal Government’s national education reform agenda.

Related Education Article:

• Education Loan in Nepal – Checklist and Procedure

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