Lead School Project
The Lead School Project is a three-year project that focuses on child development and creating content for subjects like Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. It also includes classroom management and ways to set up and run a library in the classroom or within the school and a few parenting sessions. Some combined sessions of teachers and principals are also conducted to support them to work for the betterment of the students and to encourage better communication and cooperation between the teachers and school administration. The school leaders share how the training provided by RBPOP has helped them make a positive impact on their schools. They also enjoyed a 3-day retreat.
As part of the phase III project, RBPOP, with the help of trainers from the Rato Bangala Foundation, is helping the lead schools to organize Bal Sahitya Mahotsav (BSM) in their schools. So far, nine schools have successfully organized BSM in their schools. RBPOP also collaborated with Karkhana to conduct the Science Fellowship Program in the lead schools for students from Grades VI to VIII.
The project focuses on providing Leadership Trainings, Early Childhood Trainings and fostering Child-friendly Practices in the partner schools. The Project also aims to conduct STEM projects and Bal Sahitya Mahotsav in the respective Schools.
Phase III (A)
2017 - Ongoing
Schools
Schools : 44
School Leaders : 44
Community
Teachers : 98
EC Students : 1000
Municipalities: 3
Involvement
Primary Teacher : 162
Students : 2,385
Establishment
Lalitpur District
Early Childhood
Development Project
Early Childhood Development
Project
A well-planned Early Childhood Development (ECD) program provides notable benefits to a child. We focus on developing an effective ECD program to be implemented in 13 Lead schools of Lalitpur Cohort I and ten schools of Lalitpur Cohort II. This is an opportunity to improve the way children learn which brings a positive impact on children’s capabilities. Research has shown that investment in the early years brings the most impressive returns. The initial one-year project for cohort I from April 2018 to April 2019 became successful, and the activities for the second year have already started.
The first year for cohort II started on 20 June 2019. 33 EC teachers were provided training for six days as a first-phase program.
The first year for cohort II started on 20 June 2019. 33 EC teachers were provided training for six days as a first-phase program.
RBPOP trained 83 students in cohort I for ten days and 65 students in cohort II for two days through this project. The volunteers were the students from RBS and other partner schools waiting for their SEE results and ready to work in Early Childhood classes while the teachers received their training. Teachers attended ten days of training. Ms. Kalpana Parajuli, an Early childhood teacher for over two decades, led the training and conducted demonstration classes in 13 lead schools. Trainers from Rato Bangala Foundation supported Preschool teachers in setting up 27 classrooms in 13 schools.
A set of materials were given to the schools. It included wooden blocks, Stationery, Puzzles, Children’s books, Song/Poem charts, Manipulative storage boxes, Trays, Floor cushions, puppets, Wooden figures for Science and Social Studies, Math materials, Organizing shelves, Flex on eleven essential Child-Centered Practices.
A landmark meeting was held at Rato Bangala School with the elected officials of Lalitpur Municipality on 26 Sep 2018. Mayor Mr. Chiribabu Maharjan and Deputy Mayor Ms. Gita Satyal participated in the meeting with ward chairs and education officials in interactive sessions on early childhood programs to ensure the holistic development of each child. The participants committed to focusing on early childhood development because it is the most vital stage in a child’s development.
A landmark meeting was held at Rato Bangala School with the elected officials of Lalitpur Municipality on 26 Sep 2018. Mayor Mr. Chiribabu Maharjan and Deputy Mayor Ms. Gita Satyal participated in the meeting with ward chairs and education officials in interactive sessions on early childhood programs to ensure the holistic development of each child. The participants committed to focusing on early childhood development because it is the most vital stage in a child’s development.
Rapid Neurodevelopment Assessment (RNDA)
In 2019, RBPOP launched a new endeavor to train a group of educators in ways to use the Rapid Neurodevelopment Assessment (RNDA) tool, a tool new to Nepal. RNDA assesses eight neurodevelopment domains plus two nutritional domains of stunting and wasting for children from birth to 16 years. Three teachers from RBS and trainers from RBF participated in the initial six-day training of trainers to understand this tool to implement it across Nepal. The Report Dissemination Program of RNDA held on November 18, 2019, shared the findings of a study done in eight childcare centers of Lalitpur Metropolitan City. The assessment from July to August 2019 collected data from 136 children (0-7 years).RBPOP is now in the process of doing an MOU with Lalitpur Municipality ( LMC ) to organize an RNDA training inside Lalitpur Municipality.
Phase III (B)
Support during Pandemic
Support
Distribution of learning
materials : Books and Stationeries
Students
Primary students : 2385
EC students : 1000
Schools
Schools : 22
Students of 40 schools
in coordination with
LMC : 11, 264
Radio Bal Sikai
A radio program broadcasted on community radio stations around the country
Episodes : 144
Episode per weeks for Children : 2
Episode per weeks for Parents/Teachers : 1
Conference
RBPOP is one of the sponsors of the ICQE (International Conference on Quality Education) and the Bal Sahitya Mahotsav. We allow government school teachers to attend the conferences and take BSM to the districts. In addition, the ICQE receives support for inviting international speakers to conduct sessions.
Learning and Playing Materials Distribution
RBPOP distributed packets to 2,385 primary students and 1,000 EC students of 22 community schools in Lalitpur. These are the RBPOP partner schools where RBPOP is working on school culture and leadership, experiential learning skills, early childhood development, building child-friendly practices, and more. Each packet includes Nepali and English storybooks, pencils, erasers, Math and Language exercise books, sharpeners, and two reusable cloth masks for each child. The books will ultimately go back to the school libraries. Also, we distributed the playing materials like shape stacks, shape boxes, puzzles, and dice to each EC class.
Radio Program
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown, children couldn't access their schools. In response to this, RBPOP started a unique radio program Radio Bal Sikai in collaboration with the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters of Nepal (ACORAB). This program has reached children all over the country through ACORAB's nationwide network
RBPOP Scholarship in Rato Bangala School and beyond
RBPOP provides scholarships to eighty Grade I students from 40 partner schools in Lalitpur under the Students Motivation Program 2081. This scholarship enables academically strong students, who would otherwise struggle to meet basic requirements like stationery, to pursue their education.
Currently, 20 girls are studying in the RBS hostel. Four girls have received scholarships from various donors, while 16 have been supported by RBPOP. In the year 2081, three girls from Phidim Municipality were selected for Grades I, II, and III at RBS. Additionally, a total of four girls are studying at Bright Horizon Secondary School under the RBS Scholarship program.