Population (approx.)22 millionLiteracy StatisticsOverall: 27.5%Male: 40.9%Female: 14.0%GNP Per Capita (US Dollars)$1,090Source: The World Bank Development Indicators, 1996; CIA World Fact Book 1997 |
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Country Report presented by Ghanashyam Khatiwada
Nepal is a small, land-locked, mountainous country that is geographically, culturally, and linguistically diverse. Because more than half the population is illiterate, His Majesty's Government of Nepal has set a target goal of a national literacy rate of 67% by the end of 2000. To meet this national target, NGOs, INGOs, and GOs are working with literacy programs in different parts of the country to help design more effective literacy programs for multi-lingual communities.
Previously, literacy materials used for non-formal education included a primer in the Nepali language, which used a key-word approach. Save the Children/US carried out a small study to evaluate this primer in 1993, and as a result, introduced the alternative Language Experience Approach described below for those learners who use Nepali as a second language.
The Language Experience Approach (LEA)
- Classes start from learners' discussions based on their own experiences.
- Participants chose the experiences to be used as the topics of learning.
- Facilitators summarize the discussions of the classes.
- Reading exercises build on themes and words selected by the learners.
- Writing exercises include generating materials to be printed or produced as lithographs.
Why LEA?
- Learners use their own language in the learning process.
- Learners are free to choose their subject and topics for learning.
- Learners get opportunities to develop their own lessons and book(s).
- Learners develop material according to their interest.
- Content is based on the experiences of learners, not of experts.
Challenges
- Scarcity of qualified manpower
- Need for continuous and close monitoring and supervision
- Need for full time supervisors and facilitators
Results
Save the Children/US has carried out a small comparative study between the two approaches, using data from the literacy final achievement test. According to this study:
- LEA achievement was high among the learners who were non-Nepali speaking.
- The key-word approach had a high performance where the learners were native Nepali speakers.
The study supports the theory that multiple approaches or methods are needed to meet the diversified needs of a multilingual population. Different literacy options have to be explored in order to meet the Nepali national goal.
Country Report presented by Jeeban Sharma Paudel
The Literacy Program in Nepal consists of the following:
- Adult Literacy program (for men and women of 15-45 years);
- Women's Literacy Program (for women of 15-45 years) currently conducted in 40 districts of Nepal; and
- Out-of-School Children's Program (children of 8-14 years who are out of school) wherein after completion of a 9-month course, the children have access to the formal schooling system.
The Women's Literacy Program is carried out in three stages:
- basic level (9 months), teaches basic skills and knowledge;
- middle level (6 months), covers additional skills and functional knowledge
- third level (3 months or longer depending on the needs of the learners), teaches income generating skills and provides information about access to financial institutions.
The Women's Literacy Program has had a positive impact on increasing women's literacy levels and girls' enrollment in school, and women's participation in social activities. However, there are some concerns about goals of this program, which aims to increase the literacy rate among women by 19% within 3 years. Given current resources, and concerns about the sustainability of the program, this goal constitutes a significant challenge.
INTERNATIONAL LITERACY
INSTITUTE