News, 20.6.2024

Nepal, Finland, and the EU launch a joint education sector project in Nepal

Nepal, Finland and the European Union are launching a new bilateral, five-year project in Nepal focused on developing teacher education. The TECSES (Technical Support Cooperation to School Education Sector in Nepal) project is implemented by HY+, a company providing education and development services under the University of Helsinki. The project supports Nepal's education sector program and is funded by Finland and the European Union.

The joint technical support project for the education sector, TECSES, begins in Nepal in June 2024. The project is funded by Finland (EUR 5 million) and the European Union (EUR 5 million) and will continue until 2028. The project strengthens Nepal’s governmental education sector program (School Education Sector Plan, SESP), which Finland supports with EUR 19 million in 2023-2027.

The TECSES project aims to develop teacher training in collaboration with Nepal’s Ministry of Education, project provinces, and universities. Another goal is to ensure all students can access basic education by strengthening the inclusiveness of Nepal’s education system. The project targets the provinces of Karnali, Sudurpashchim, and Madhesh, where learning outcomes are weakest, and school dropout rates are high.

TECSES project is implemented by HY+, with expert partners including the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki, the Professional Teacher Education Programme at Häme University of Applied Sciences, and the Finnish NGO partner FCA. In Nepal, partners include the Ministry of Education and its subordinate agencies responsible for in-service teacher training, curriculum development, and monitoring education quality. Additional partners include the education administrations of the project provinces, teacher training centers, local municipalities, educational institutions, and universities operating in these areas.

A representative of Birendranagar municipality, the project team, and education experts from the Finnish Embassy visited Bhairab Primary and Secondary School in Birendranagar, Karnali Province.

In Nepal, universities are responsible for basic teacher education, while the Ministry of Education, provincial education centers, and municipalities handle in-service training. The teacher training system is fragmented, and especially the training of lower grade teachers is short and of weaker quality. The TECSES project aims to respond to this and support Nepal in improving the quality of the teacher education system.

The project further strengthens the cooperation in the education sector between Finland and Nepal, which began in the 1990s, and reaffirms Finland’s commitment to promoting education globally. "Nepal is a long-term development cooperation partner of Finland. Together, we have achieved significant results and advanced sustainable development goals. Education is one of the pillars of Finland's development cooperation with Nepal. One of our most important goals is to ensure that all children, including children with disabilities, have the opportunity to receive quality education in a fair and inclusive learning environment," said Ambassador of Finland to Nepal Riina-Riikka Heikka.

The project began with meetings with various stakeholders and initial planning in June. TECSES kick-off event will be held in September 2024.