'Reading Skills for Primary School Children improved'

Kathmandu, April 27: The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), USAID’s Early Grade Reading Program (USAID EGRP II), and other development partners convened a high-level event at Singha Durbar on Wednesday.

According to the American Embassy, the event marked the closing of USAID EGRP II and celebrated seven years of collaboration and achievements of the National Early Grade Reading Program (NEGRP).

In 2015 USAID and the Government of Nepal embarked on a seven-year journey to support MOEST with interventions to improve the reading skills of Nepali primary school children.

According to MoEST Joint Secretary Dr Hari Lamsal in the last seven years, the National Early Grade Reading Program supported the implementation of the revised curriculum, developed municipal education plans and ensured access to quality teaching and learning in half of Nepal’s schools.

Sepideh Keyvanshad, USAID/Nepal Mission Director noted, “Over the past seven years, the partnership between the Government of Nepal and USAID through the National Early Grade Reading Program, has led to tangible improvements in learning for Nepal’s children in the foundational early grades of primary school—even in the face of substantial adversity during the pandemic.”

“As we celebrate 75 years of partnership between the Government of Nepal and the United States Government, we look forward to continuing in the spirit of strong collaboration. We look forward to supporting the Ministry’s goal of improving every child's reading skills by 2030 as outlined in the School Education Sector Plan 2021-2030,” Keyvanshad said.

The United States first started partnering with the Nepal government on education in the late 1950s with the founding of the College of Education. The U.S. government has since continued to collaborate closely and support the Nepali Government to improve the quality of education in the country.