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Teacher education project launched in Nepal

Technical Support Cooperation to School Education Sector project, with around 1.4 billion rupees funding from Finland and EU, was launched during the visit of Ville Tavio, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, to Nepal.

From left, Finnish Ambassador to Nepal Riina Riikka Heikka, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio, Minister of Education of Nepal Bidya Bhattarai and EU ambassador to Nepal Veronique Lorenzo during the inaugural event of TECSES in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu: Finland, European Union and Nepal jointly launched Technical Support Cooperation to School Education Sector project (TECSES) project on Thursday in Kathmandu. The project with 10 million Euro (around 1.5 billion Nepali rupees) assistance, with Finland funding EUR 5 million and European Union funding EUR 5 million for the next five years, aims to strengthen the education sector in Nepal.  The project was launched during the visit of Ville Tavio, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, to Nepal this week.

TECSES supports the School Education Sector Plan of the government focusing on development of a quality and inclusive education system in Nepal. The project, which will be implemented in collaboration with the federal-level agencies of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, universities, as well as province and local levels, in Karnali, Madhesh and Sudurpashchim provinces, also aims to bring together Finland’s expertise in education with the EU’s commitment to promoting inclusive quality education and gender equality.

During the inauguration event, Minister Tavio highlighted the importance of education in Finland’s development policy. “We believe in the power of education to change lives and drive long-term development. Our work in Nepal aligns with our broader commitment to promoting quality education and gender equality,” he said. “Investing in education is investing for the future of Nepal.”

On the occasion, Bidya Bhattari, Minister of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal, lauded the support of the government of Finland in Nepal’s education sector. “This project is expected to strengthen Nepal’s teacher education system, encompassing both in-service and pre-service teacher education programs,” said Bhattarai.

“I anticipate that the project will complement the implementation of the free and basic education program and enhance the quality and relevance of education to ensure minimum learning achievement through improved teacher professionalism.” She further said that the project will significantly support the development and implementation of effective teacher education programs in faculty of education under various Nepali universities.

Veronique Lorenzo, the ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, said the EU aims to empower Nepali students through the project. “TECSES project reflects the EU’s unwavering commitment to promoting quality education and gender equality in Nepal. By supporting the development of Nepal’s education sector, we aim to empower Nepalese students, particularly girls and disadvantaged communities, to reach their full potential,” she said. “This project is a strategic investment in Nepal’s future, and we are proud to be partnering with Finland and the Government of Nepal to make it a success.”

Eija-Riitta Kinnunen, Chief Technical Advisor to Technical Support Cooperation to School Education Sector (TECSES),  highlighted the importance of teacher education. “Teachers are the backbone of every society. A well-trained, motivated teacher can empower generations of students,” she said. “This is why it is so important to invest in teachers. By investing in teacher education, we are investing in the future,” she said.

 “Throughout the project, we will focus on ensuring equity and inclusion in school education. We want all children, irrespective of their background, to have access to quality education,” she added. “To do this, we will support our stakeholders to develop curricula and courses, strengthen capacities of teacher trainers, provide support programs for teachers, organize study visits and exchanges and develop online based learning.”

TECSES builds on Finland’s previous development efforts in Nepal, including projects to enhance technical education and vocational training and soft skills development from 2012 to 2019, as well as on the cooperation between Finnish and Nepalese Higher Education Institutions. According to Finnish embassy in Kathmandu, TECSES project is implemented by HY+, a company providing education and development services under the University of Helsinki, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Government of Nepal and with expert partners including the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki, the School of Professional Teacher Education at Häme University of Applied Sciences, and the Finnish NGO partner FCA.

[Photos by Srijana Bhatta]