Critical Thinking Experience in Nepal

The Critical Thinking (CT) Program in Nepal http://www.criticalthinking.org.np/content/index.php is being implemented by Alliance for Social Dialogue (ASD) with the support of Open Society Institute (OSI), New York. The program began with a Demonstration Workshop conducted back in December 2008, and the first phase of the Critical Thinking Training Program began on June 1, 2009.

The program has been introduced in Nepal to contribute to improving the quality of education in Nepal. The CT Program came into execution after a year long consultative review conducted by ASD concluded that poor school management, accountability of teachers and government, capacity of teachers, inappropriate teaching methodology and the school physical facilities are the major factors contributing to the deterioration of students’ performance and quality of the students in public educational institutions. Similar types of problem were reported to the representative of Education Support Program (ESP) of OSI during their visit to Kathmandu in interactions with different stakeholders from the education sector. Most of the people consulted during the visit of ESP team expressed that teacher development and management is a priority area that needs to be seriously addressed in order to achieve quality education and create a child-friendly environment.

Considering the above problems and challenges, ASD in consultation/collaboration with Faculty of Education (FOE) and National Center for Education Development (NCED) and with the support of OSI is implementing the CT program in Nepal and is currently focused at providing training to teacher trainers, educators, trainers and faculty members in designing classrooms that model tolerant, open-minded, innovative thinking in future graduates who, in turn, become independent thinkers, creative problem-solvers and competent citizens able to take an active role in the improvement of their society.

Veronica Cretu and Nicu Cretu of CMB Training Center have conducted 5 modules of Trainings, 5 days each module for 2 groups of participants: In-Service group and Pre-service group. A total of 25 days of Training of Trainers are requested by the Program Experts from the participants in order to become certified Critical Thinking Trainers.

In December 2010, a total of 72 participants, have successfully graduated from the Critical Thinking ToT Program.

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