All community schools within Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) have their winter vacation from January 2 to January 21. While students will have time to enjoy their vacation, teachers will likely have a busy schedule during this period as KMC takes a proactive initiative to train teachers to improve teaching-learning activities in community schools. The Education Department of KMC has urged community school teachers to participate in capacity development training organized in line with the action plan of the 2081 BS academic calendar to positively impact students' learning, sports, and other activities. KMC officials stated that investing in teachers' capacity development is necessary to improve the performance of community schools. The initiative taken by KMC to enhance education quality in community schools is highly commendable. It underscores the need for local governments across the country to replicate KMC’s efforts, considering that the quality of education in most community schools is not up to the standard, compelling parents to send their children to private schools. Teachers in the community schools should also seize this opportunity to enhance their skills and teaching methods, ensuring a better teaching-learning environment in the classroom while utilizing their break time effectively.
The training organized by the KMC during winter to prevent any impact on students' educational activities aims to equip teachers teaching different subjects with creative, integrated, skill-based and practice-oriented teaching methods. The SEE-targeted learning classes have also been organized for interested students of Grade X in subjects including Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Economics. The learning methods, according to KMC, include use of technology, group learning and project-based classes. The metropolis also plans to train focal teachers in creative learning and skill-based education without textbooks on Fridays. Other key highlights of this initiative include psychosocial counseling and career guidance mapping for teachers, training for facilitators of early childhood development education, training for teachers of grades 1-3 on integrated curriculum and constructive assessment and sports training under the Creative School Development Program are also included in the program. These trainings are expected to contribute to the professional development of teachers and improve students' educational outcomes.
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Capacity enhancement training is important for teachers because it equips them with the skills, knowledge and tools needed to effectively meet the evolving demands of education. Such training is crucial for improving teaching methods, keeping up with the curriculum changes, addressing diverse learning needs and integrating technology in teaching and learning activities. They can also help teachers to foster critical thinking and creativity, boost confidence and professional growth and develop collaborative learning and networking, eventually improving outcomes. The initiative taken by the KMC under the leadership of Mayor Balen Shah is commendable. It is high time other local governments across the country replicate such efforts to improve the quality of public schools. This kind of intervention can significantly enhance teaching and learning activities in community schools, where the government has already made substantial investments.
