Education

Umbrella knows that the best gift you can give a child to secure their future is a good education. For this reason education has always been at the forefront of Umbrella's priorities. Education is a basic human right and it is the fundamental tool in reducing poverty, discrimination and injustice.

The Nepali education system is severely understaffed and underfunded and schools are overcrowded. With a ratio of one teacher to fifty children in some government schools the decision was made to send all Umbrella children to private, English medium schools. 

Every house in Umbrella has live-in-tutors who help the children with their homework, and their studies. The method of teaching and learning in Nepal relies heavily on rote learning, in order to ensure that our children are getting the full benefit from their education we have introduced in house testing. These exams are held three times a year and are designed by the Umbrella tutors. The results of these tests help us see the children's development and help us address problem areas. 

In Nepal a child does not legally have to attend a government recognised school for the three lowest classes; lower kinder garten, upper kinder garten and class one. With the help of the Indian Embassy's Women's Club, Umbrella has opened up a Montessori style school for these three classes. It is the hope that by giving the children a solid foundation in their education and training them in good learning practices, we are giving them an extra advantage for when they enter main stream school.

Education will remain high on our list of priorities when we move to the village of Gurje. As in many rural communities the standard of the local schools is lower than that of even Kathmandu schools. Umbrella is working with the Nepali and Indian governments to build a school for 500 children. The planned school will have 50% of places going to the local children and 50% of places will be for Umbrella children.

Education does not end when you finish school. Umbrella wish to provide a rounded education and equip the children with the necessary tools for adult life and the skills they will need to take the next steps out of Umbrella. Our Next Steps programme is designed to prepare our older children for the demands of Nepal's competitive work place.