Kathmandu, November 8

Stakeholders, government bodies and organisations working to enhance the quality of education have stressed the need for integrating Information Communication Technology into classrooms.

Speaking at an interaction ‘Shaping the Future of Learning, Technology in Classrooms – Scaling Successful Practices’ organised by Open Learning Exchange Nepal here today, participants said teaching-learning activities could be effective only if theoretical education and practical knowledge went hand in hand.

Speaking at the programme, Chairperson of OLE Nepal Prithivi Bahadur Pande said they were on a mission to end disparities in the education system in Nepal. He said, “We want to see all  children in Nepal get quality education within 10 years.” OLE Nepal has been working to integrate technology into teaching-learning process in Nepal for the last 10 years.

Secretary at the Ministry of Education Madhu Prasad Regmi said, “Traditional teaching-learning methods should now be gradually replaced with an interactive learning process. This process must be backed by technology.”

Similarly, CEO of OLE International and Former Associate Dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education Richard R Rowe said, “The education system in developing countries are encouraging to tell us you are a failure. This has to change and students should be encouraged towards learning. ICT must be used as a tool of learning, it’s not the learning itself.”

OLE Nepal claims to have reached over half a million students, who it says are benefiting from its digital learning methods. It provides digital libraries, thousands of e-books and videos through its server to schools in the remote areas.

More than 6,000 students from the remote areas now have access to child-friendly XO laptops with inbuilt software that allows students from Grade II to VIII to learn about their courses using latest technology. The courses prescribed by the Curriculum Development Centre are redesigned to make them more user-friendly and provide practical knowledge about the subject.