www.USNepalOnline.Com: Nepalese News Live from the capital of the world-New York City

Inside This:
यस भित्रका खुराकहरु:
संपादकीय Editorial
साताको कुराकानी Interview
साताको दोहोरी भाका
साताको अनुहार
साप्‍ताहिक झटारो
हाम्रो बोली
अन्‍रांष्‍ट्रीय खबरहरु
International News
Faces of the Week
न्‍यूयोर्कमा आगामी कायंक्रमहरु
Upcoming Events in NYC & USA
न्‍यूयोर्क शहरमा एक साँझ
An Evening Out in New York
न्‍यूयोर्कका नेपाली संघ-संस्‍थाहरु
Nepalese Orgs in NYC
न्‍यूयोर्कमा नेपाली ब्‍‍यावसायहरु
Nepalese Business in NYC
अमेरिकामा नेपाली संस्‍थाहरु
Nepalese Orgs in USA
अमेरिकामा नेपाली ब्‍‍यावसायहरु
Nepalese Business in USA
समकालिन साहित्य-रचना
Contemporary Writings
कविता Poetry
मनोरन्जन Entertainment
दोहोरी लोक भाकाहरु सुनौं
Nepalese Folk Music & Dance
पाठक प्रतिकृया Readers' Comments
Audio Archive/Video Archive
नेपालका आदिवासी-जनजातिहरु
Indigenous People of Nepal
प्रवासी नेपाली संस्थाह्‍रू
Nepali Diaspora Orgs
Nepali News Media
नेपाली पत्रपत्रिकाहरू
दैनिक Daily
साप्‍ताहिक Weekly
Monthly & Other Media
Nepali Online Portals
Nepali Radio / F.M. / TV

Nepalese Women Find Literacy Class as Road to Independence

Nepalese women learning to write in the literacy class. Photos: Sangmo

Kathmandu, July 28, 2008- Until sometime ago, illiterate women of Nepal were not aware of the need and importance of education. In fact, they were deprived of it for many years due to social, economic, cultural and other factors. But now they have realized the importance of becoming literate.

Lately, many middle aged women in Kathmandu have started taking the literacy class, knowing the great impact of education in their lives.

Yog Maya Karki, 45, is among them. Karki, who hails from Sindhuli district, now doesn't need to ask somebody else’s thelp to read the letters send by her sons who are abroad. “Before joining the class I used to ask a literate person to read my letter but now, I myself can read and write the letter." says Karki.

She has been taking the literacy class for 5 months run by Pragati Nepal, a social organization that works for women’s empowerment and is situated in Aanamnagar, Kathmandu.

56- year-old Urba Tamang of Trisuli who has been living in Kathmandu for 4 years, is also regularly attending the class. “Every time I found it difficult to dial the phone number when I needed to make a call ", as she reveals the reason behind attending the literacy class.

“So, I came here to recognize the digits/ numerals as well as to learn to write my name in a correct form."

56-year-old Urba Tamang attending the literacy class.

Tamang explained, remembering past incidents when she had a hard time making her signature.

In the class of about 70 middle-aged women who are making their efforts to learn to read and write, most are homemakers. They no more want to be confined to kitchen work and now have a desire to engage in some sorts of more significant work.

Laxmi Shrestha, 28 is one among many who has become fed up doing household work daily." I want to get involved in business", she shares.

“After being able to read and write properly I am sure no one can cheat me in my business dealings", optimistic Shrestha said.

Many of them now believe that non-formal education has truly helped to make their daily lives much easier.

“Nowadays, I feel comfortable while doing any kind of task" says Urmila Khadka, 38, of Aanamnagar “whether it is handling business, or dealing with problems."

"Earlier, girls were not allowed to go to school so I have been deprived of education in my young age”, laments Manju Thapa, 38 of Bajhang, who was encouraged by her family to join the literacy class.

“However I am determined to learn as much as I can at this age."

Girls’ Education in many rural and remote areas of Nepal has not been encouraged entirely. Thus, the illiteracy rate of women is higher than men in Nepal.

Teacher Bhagwati Ale seems excited while teaching these women who are much older than she. “I feel happy when they show interest in their studies" shares Ale, reporting “Many of them are able to read the text correctly within a short span of time."

Seeing such enthusiasm and dedication in these women in reading and writing, General Secretary of Pragati Nepal, Durga Thapa is very pleased. “It’s good to see women's awareness towards the education. As most of them are from economically backward communities, this non-formal education would surely help them.”

However, she complains of not receiving any support from the government side, “It has been running with our own efforts", she stated.

-Sangmo Yonjan-Tamang in Kathmandu

तपाईंको भनाइ लेखी छाड्‍न र अरुको भनाइ पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस्
Please add yours and view our readers' comments at: Guest Book page»