KMC formulates directive for pre-primary schools

Kathmandu, January 29

The 28th municipal council of Kathmandu Metropolitan City has formulated and approved ‘Pre-primary School Management Directive, 2016’.

The guideline has categorised childcare centre, kindergarten, Montessori school and child development centre as per-primary school which is established and operated for physical, social, mental and intellectual development of children below seven years of age.

Anyone desirous of operating the school within the metropolis should submit an application to the concerned ward office at least four months prior to the start of the academic session.

“The application should contain details of services and facilities to be provided to children, their age group, teaching and learning process and physical environment of the proposed school,” reads the directive.

If an application is received, the ward office will conduct on-site inspection to ascertain whether the location of the school and physical infrastructure are consistent with the prescribed standards. The proposed school is also required to sign a commitment letter stating that there will be no violence against children as per the existing laws.

The school established under this directive should be renewed every year by paying chargeable fee and tax. “The school needs to have child-friendly infrastructures and qualified human resources meeting the requirement prescribed by the directive. Any school to be established should be named after geographical, religious and historical place of national importance, and nationally and internationally acclaimed persons,” says the law.

The curriculum and textbooks to be put in place should be of self-confidence booster and that make the children cooperative and self-reliant in line with the preliminary child development manual issued by the Department of Education. The school will be not allowed to shut teaching and learning activities exceeding 10 days other than Saturdays and other public holidays. Regular supply of safe drinking water, nutrients, child-friendly toilet, resting room, sanitation, health check-up facility, children’s library, playground, well-ventilated classrooms and parking lots among other are minimum requirement of physical infrastructure.

Principal of the school should have acquired at least Plus Two degree and the schoolteachers and supporting staff are required to treat all children equally. The school will have a four-member management committee and will be monitored by a five-member monitoring and evaluation committee headed by the chief of the Department of Social Development under KMC.