A Flying Start to Learning  

In partnership with Seto Gurans Kapilvastu and Seto Gurans Rupandehi

Our aim: to improve the quality of Early Years Education centres, in order to give children a flying start to their learning

Who are we helping?

We want to support children from disadvantaged communities in the rural districts of Kapilvastu and Rupandehi, who find it most difficult to access education.  The Government's education policy promotes compulsory, free schooling for children aged five to nine years.  However, only 4 out of 5 children attend primary school, and only 4 out of 10 children complete primary school.

Girls and lower caste children are more likely than others to be out of school.  In many families, boys are the most likely to be educated, as girls are expected to look after the home, and parents do not want to invest in education for a daughter who will often marry early and move to her husband's home.  For lower caste children, poverty and caste discrimination can make it difficult to attend school.  These out-of-school children are most likely to join the child labour market, at best working for their families, and at worst becoming domestic workers, bonded labourers, factory workers, rag pickers or coal miners. 

What are we doing to help?

There are close links between quality early years education, increased enrolment rates and improved progress at primary school.  We are working in partnership with two regional organisations, Seto Gurans Kapilvastu and Seto Gurans Rupandehi, to improve early years education for 3-5 year olds in 30 centres in Kapilvastu and 20 centres in Rupandehi.  Together with Seto Gurans we are providing training to teachers in these centres, introducing them to effective early years methods including teaching through topics and ‘learning through play'.  We are also encouraging parents to become involved in and committed to children's development, through management committees for each early years centre, and parenting education classes covering a range of development topics.  We are increasing awareness of the role of the community in children's development, by setting up children's clubs to educate community members and advocate for children's rights to education.