Publication
Multilingual Education in Nepal: Hearsay and Reality? A report
The present study entitled "Multilingual Education in Nepal: Hearsay and Reality?" was started in April 2011 and completed on 25th May 2011. The main aim of the study was to explore and analyze the realities of the Multilingual Education (MLE) programme being practiced in seven schools from six different districts. The MLE programme was launched by the Department of Education (DOE) with the technical assistance of the Government of Finland in2007. Nepal Government has planned to implement MLE in 300 schools in the coming years but there have been no comprehensive studies conducted to give an accurate picture of the MLE programme. In this context, the present study was carried out.
The findings of the study indicate that unless the implementation aspect of MLE is realistic, the MLE programme may not be sustainable. Parents' awareness raising programmes are required. Many parents do not realize the fact that education through mother tongue in the beginning of schooling, will actually enhance the capability of their children to learn a second or foreign language such as Nepali and English respectively. During the period of the Finnish Government's technical assistance, teachers were provided with training, support materials and exposure visits, but with its termination, the sources of support were significantly reduced. The teachers need support to run the programme effectively and they feel that the support provided by the State is not adequate. The State had made many commitment through policy development and now is the time to turn the policies into practice. Parents, children, teachers and other community members want to continue the programme which suggests that the MLE situation in all schools is not discouraging.
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Kathmandu, UNESCO Office Kathmandu, 2011, 64p.
ISBN 978-9937-8446-1-1
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