First ever digital learning materials in Chepang launched!
October 30, 2015 | Chitwan
Open Learning Exchange Nepal (OLE Nepal) has successfully launched the first ever digital educational activities in Chepang language in Shree Rastriya Primary School in Chitwan. This program has been implemented in collaboration with the District Education Office of Chitwan and the Embassy of Finland in Nepal with an aim to enable children from marginalized communities to learn in their mother tongue which is a key to achieving better learning outcomes.
Teachers examining the innovative educational tool for the first time.
Chepang language is an indigenous language, predominantly used among the people from marginalized communities living in remote region of Nepal. The national curriculum based learning activities in Chepang were developed by OLE Nepal in collaboration with Department of Education to help learners excel academically by making greater use of their mother tongue to learn in primary grades.
The program in Shree Rastriya Primary School was formally launched with the basic training for teachers who were very keen to learn about the innovative use of technology in education and its impact in children. Ms. Padma Kumari Tamang, a grade teacher expressed that “the school has maximum number of Chepang students who will understand the materials available in the laptop which will help them learn easily.” The digital educational materials in Chepang has been developed for math and science subjects for grades 2 to 6. However, the learners from these grades can also access lessons for Nepali and English.
Glimpse of an activity in Chepang.
Language is one of the six dimensions to strengthen equity in education system, and mother tongue education for children from disadvantaged and marginalized ethnic communities are critical in ensuring equity in participation and learning outcomes. Learning materials available in ethnic language enables children to learn effectively without any language barrier and helps them understand various concepts while raising their interest in learning. It also motivates them to attend school on regular basis.
With successful development and designing of the national curriculum based digital educational activities for grades two through seven in Nepali, English, math and science since 2007, OLE Nepal has provided access to quality learning educational materials to more than 40,000 students with the help from more than 700 trained teachers.
You can also read about the school selection process for program implementation here.
