Friday, September 23, 2011

Work

Seems that not many entries have had so much to do with work ....... and that is why I am in Bhairawa. Since leaving Melbourne last November I have of course, learned a great deal about how education and schools operate in Nepal. The fundamental starting point in order to make suggestions that will be even remotely useful in my role as an education management volunteer. Matters like timetables and calendars through expectations of teachers e.g. no desks and chairs to be provided for most teachers in class and on to how decisions in Kathmandu play out here in the district. The biggest challenge for any Head Teacher in Rupandehi is simply having ‘enough’ teachers and rooms. Arrangements vary from a class with 90+ students in it, to subject teaching in a school with more class groups than there are teachers. One of our 12 focus schools does not have any toilets; most schools lack adequate rooms in some way (number, dimensions, security, flooring and so on). School Management Committees are not able to meet the minimum standards written to guide them. The political landscape in Nepal in the relatively recent past means that there was a population shift to the capital – some teachers here talk of an oversupply of teachers there.

Everyone is very enthusiastic about VSO’s presence and works hard to find ways to make our time productive. Communication using my poor Nepali and teachers’ varying levels of English remains an ongoing challenge. I am able to impress in a random encounter in a shop but discussions with a Head Teacher about planning often relies on the English teacher being available to also join us.

The use of low/no cost materials is often raised as something teachers are keen to improve in their work. For our 12 schools their experience leading up to our involvement, has been varied. A few schools have relatively large collections of books and other teaching resources sometimes unused for years, with knowledge of what is in the collection, lost. Superficially at least, this could be a result of agencies giving boxes of material with little training and even less follow-up. VSO’s approach is very much about training and working alongside teachers and managers rather than providing resources. There is a budget for us to provide classroom items, but it is small and the focus is on the professional experience of the international volunteer working alongside Nepalis. Other schools have very little as they have only recently been established. Both Nepali and international organisations are numerous and provide all sorts of different support based on their view of the needs.

Enrolment of students has increased substantially in our district over recent years though there are still students to reach. Our project aims to enrol all children in the catchment of the chosen focus schools and to help staff improve the quality of education in order to increase retention.

One task I am working on is continuous assessment. Until this year, students from class 1 onwards have had exams three times a year to assess their learning. The district has introduced continuous assessment in classes 1, 2, 3, but as with any new policy, anywhere, there are many points to raise and implementation issues to understand and discuss. It is many faceted and is a very interesting issue for me to work with.




how to use ..........  in what subjects?


Friday, September 2, 2011

How far does the money go?

OR       What can I buy for an Australian dollar or two?

Today’s exchange rate as per Republica newspaper is 1AUD – R78/, more than it was when I arrived last November. I’ll let you do the calculations of dollar and cents.


Lunch at a cafe: a plate of veg momos R55/ or Masala Dhosa R50/
2-egg omelette and puffed rice at the DEO teashop R30/
Cup of black tea with lemon R5/
Small bottle of sprite etc R30/
Repairing the puncture on my bike R20/
Pumping up my tyres R5/ - actually my family told me it’s 2 each tyre, but I always offer a R5 note
Bus fare for the hour ride to Lumbini for me and my cycle R50/
English newspaper R3/ or R5/

Yak cheese 100g R55/
1 kg tomatoes R20/
1kg eggplant R10/
250g green capsicum R15/

300ml bag of milk R21/
Cup of yoghurt 200ml R20/
500ml bag of yoghurt R38/
Muesli 400g packet R85/
6 bananas R25/
2kg whole-wheat flour R74/
Butter 250 g R125/

Material to make a pair of plain pants, R165/ and to stitch them R100/
A suit – material for matching pants, top, scarf and then stitched for me approx R1000/

Electricity per month on average approx 300, but this month my bill was 408 – did I mention it’s hot here and so I like using the ceiling fan? Plus the power cuts are less than in the cold season.

A 5 day course of antihistamine tablets plus a small tube of eye cream to help a fellow volunteer recover from their effort to beautify themself with hair dye R48/ (It was me who went to the pharmacy to buy as their eye was so swollen, didn’t want to cycle, no problem to buy products clearly labelled ‘not without prescription’)




 


veg momos at Mokhan Bhog, a favourite lunch spot
This entry lacks the photos I anticipated, will aim to add some more over the coming days ......