TGT, March 3
Improving education in Nepal should be a top priority for developmental efforts. To that end, the Mellekh municipality in Achham district invited German corporate trainer Kim J. Baaden to share his expertise with 15 English teachers from lower secondary and secondary governmental schools in rural Achham. Despite being accustomed to working in fine corporate settings with top-notch facilities, Mr. Kim traveled 666 kilometers from Kathmandu to lead an interactive, lively, and practical two-day training program entitled “Teacher Leadership in Action.”
The seminar’s main objective was to train teachers in different styles of teacher leadership, an area of expertise that is only beginning to be researched. As Kim emphasized, “Teachers shape the future of their students, who in turn shape the future of the nation. Nurture the students to nurture the nation.” Teachers are not merely providers of knowledge but facilitators of happy living, and learning should take into account the whole person, including psychological, social, intellectual, and talent development.
The program involved a teacher leadership assessment to help participants identify their personal leadership styles, skill gaps, and opportunities for behavioral change in their classrooms. Topics covered included communication, positive discipline, student engagement, and more. The program concluded with a grand final in the form of a classroom simulation, in which teachers demonstrated their understanding of what they had learned.
The training was co-facilitated by Sagar Khadka, a master’s student in peace, conflict and development studies, who works closely with Kim J. Baaden in development training.. He compared the training to medicine: “You take the medicine now and see the effects later.” Participants were fully engaged in the program’s various activities, and their feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Some participants suggested that the municipality should organize similar programs in different schools for a week, and others felt that two days were insufficient.
The training concluded in the presence of the vice-chairperson of the municipality, Nrip Bahadur Khadka, who expressed his commitment to developing the municipality’s education sector and promised to conduct similar programs in the future, thanks to the support of the chairperson of the municipality, Jawala Saud.
The “Teacher Leadership in Action” program was a successful initiative that highlighted the municipality’s dedication to improving the quality of education provided to students. With more programs like this, it is expected that the municipality can produce well-rounded and effective leaders for the next generation.
Kim expressed his amazement at the interest and enthusiasm shown by the teachers, saying, “We definitely will continue our efforts when asked to do so. We give service for the betterment and development of the nation. Positive Impact stands on our flags!”