KATHMANDU, Sep 1: In the vicinity of Nepal's largest hydroelectric project, Kaligandaki, there's a school with an incredible library. Lina, a second-grade student has read a remarkable 867 books in just one year.
Lina's impressive achievement is thanks to Room to Read, an organization promoting literacy and gender equality in education. They've supported her journey and monitored her progress closely.
The library at Lina's school is filled with colorful books that kids adore. Even second-graders are reading with surprising skill. Students are encouraged to explore books at home, showing their growing passion for reading.
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Lina's mother, Dumre, shared, "When Lina gets home, she can't wait to read her books to us after lunch." Parents play a big role in nurturing a love for reading in kids.
Creating child-friendly learning environments is key to fostering a lifelong love for reading. Teachers need training and resources to engage students effectively. Room to Read, in partnership with Kaligandaki Palika, is dedicated to eradicating childhood illiteracy through proven literacy tools, teacher training, library management, and carefully designed storybooks.
Principal Pashupati Pandey of Satya Devi Secondary School, where Lina studies, highlighted the transformation. "The Literacy Program makes learning joyful, reduces rote learning, and cuts absenteeism," he said.
Chairman Khim Bahadur Thapa of Kaligandaki Rural Municipality dreams of universal literacy up to grade 3 in 35 community schools. "Literacy is vital for future opportunities, and libraries nurture literacy skills," he emphasized.
While progress has been made in access to primary education, challenges remain in ensuring quality. Room to Read works in schools with under-trained teachers, limited books, and resource constraints. Many students are first-generation learners, facing challenges in becoming fluent readers.
