School or Organization Name: United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Kathmandu, Nepal
Co-Presenter Name(s): Tap Raj Pant, National Programme Officer, Education Unit, UNESCO, Kathmandu, Nepal
Area of the World from Which You Will Present: Nepal
Language in Which You Will Present: English
Target Audience(s): Educators, Educational Leaders, Administrators, Policy Makers
Short Session Description (one line): Supporting Literacy through Mother-Tongue Education in Nepal
Session Strand: Policy and Leadership
Full Session Description (as long as you would like):
Literacy is a basic human right; a powerful means of development; and a force for peace in Nepal. However, more than 7.6 million Nepalese or 42% of the adult population (1) in Nepal, are illiterate. Women comprise the majority of illiterates with approximately 5.1 million unable to read and write. In addition, many school age children are being denied their right to an education, thereby running the risk of creating a new generation of illiterate people.
Illiteracy is a violation of human rights and eradicating it is one of the most urgent development challenges facing Nepal. In addition, mother tongue literacy (being able to read and write in one’s mother tongue language) is a basic right. From 2010-2011, through the development of literacy primers, the UNESCO Office in Kathmandu assisted one thousand women to become literate in their mother tongue languages of Maithili and Awadhi in Dhanusha and Rupandehi districts of Nepal.
This session will highlight the current conditions of illiteracy in Nepal, and will explain the development of mother tongue education programs for women and other disadvantaged groups in Nepal. Participants will learn how mother-tongue education programs in Nepal were developed and how these programs are supporting people to engage in further education in the mainstream education system. This session is of interest to educators and educational leaders, administrators, and policy makers who are engaged in developing policies and programs to challenge illiteracy in diverse contexts.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
UNESCO Kathmandu Office http://www.unesco.org/new/en/kathmandu/
UNESCO http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/
(1) UNESCO, 2011. Education for All Global Monitoring Report entitled “The hidden crisis: Armed conflict and education.”
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