1. Multigrade Teaching in Nepal
21-23 April 2014
UNESCO, Bangkok

2. National policy
SSRP, envisioned possibility of three types of school at the basic level - Foundation, Primary or Upper Primary.
i. Foundation School (1-3) – at least one foundation school in each settlement with or more households and/or or more population or population in the age range of 5-7 years. Since foundation schools are supposed to be located in sparsely populated localities, feasibility of multi grade teaching will be also tested in some schools.
ii. Primary School (1-5) – at least one primary school in villages with or more households and/or or more population or population in the age range of 5-9 years.
iii. Upper Primary School (1-8) – at least one upper primary school in villages with or more households and/or or more population or population in the age range of 5-13 years.

3. National policy SSRP Multi-grade teaching (MGT)
Multi-grade teaching can be introduced as pedagogical choice in identified schools that meet nationally defined criteria. The local government will select schools qualifying to operate MGT in consultation with the technical body/DEO. MGT and Grade Teaching can be practiced at the basic education and especially in foundation grades. Specially designed learning package/ facility will be provided for identified multi-grade schools, and special needs classes.

4. National policy
SSRP
In communities that do not meet the minimum population requirements even to run a Foundation school, multi-grade teaching schools will be prescribed to run. The local government, based on the minimum norms and in consultation with DEO and local educators, will determine schools within their jurisdictions that may cost effectively perform better as a multi-grade school.
DOE will develop the guidelines for Multi-grade classes and DEO will identify schools/locations appropriate for Multi-grade classes.
Multi-grade teaching implemented in 750 schools.

5. Teacher allocation practices
Education act – teacher position
Pre-primary – 1 teacher
Primary – 50 students minimum 2 teachers, more than 50 students minimum 3 teachers
SSRP (minimum no. of teachers)
Foundation – 3
Primary – 6
Upper primary – 10 (including a separate head teacher position)
On average, the School Student Ratio is 1:133 at primary; Student Teacher Ration 38:1 based on the approved positions of the teachers in community schools

6. Designation of multigrade school
More number of classes than number of teachers
Teachers’ absenteeism
Inadequate number of classrooms
Practices
More than one grade at the same classroom taught be a single teacher
More than one grade at the same classroom taught be a single teacher, but students grouped and taught in their own group as a separate grade
More than one grade taught be a single teacher, but students remain in their own classroom and teacher moves between the classes (multi class)

7. Designation of multigrade school
Definition : No defined yet, but 1-3 grades schools are small schools in Nepal
No. of small schools : Grade 1 – 388, Grade , Grade , Total 6269, Total MGML schools are 112.
No. of students in small schools ×
No. of teachers in small schools : Not described separately but generally 1-3 persons per schools.
Key challenges : Management, Quality teaching learning

8. School financing
Community school supported by government – teacher, staff salary; PCF
Local support

9. Training on multigrade teaching
NCED
MGT in the 2.5 months packages of 10 months in-service training
10 days recurrent training MGT package
MGT in teaching methods sections
(TPD at present)
10 days MGML (curricular modifications)
NCED and DOE initiatives in MGML (mainly concept of Rishi Valley) – school management.
University courses partly cover MGT concept

10. Curriculum and multigrade context
Not specifically addressed in the national curriculum
Flexibility of school curriculum: Provision of 20% local curriculum of certain subjects to all schools.
Textbook provision : MGML schools use textbooks only as reference materials. But the schools get the support fund for textbooks
Availability of lesson plans, teaching materials for multi grade classes: Checklist with milestones, learning ladder, learning cards with activity logo, grouping cards according to learning to learning cards, student daily work format, Assessment formats, workbooks and teachers guides are provided from the center

11. Studies on multigrade teaching
CERID FRP 2003 – A study on multigrade/multi class teaching: status and issues
MGT piloting CERID ( )
Differentiated curriculum approach (Environment Health Sanitation and Social Studies grades 2 and 3; Social Studies grades 4 and 5; Science, Environment and Health Education grades 4 and 5)
COPE teacher training initiatives
Government level study tours such as Rishi Valley, India and adaptation of MGML

12. Thank you