15-days’ capacity Development training for the Resource Teachers on Braille Refresher and Unified English Braille.
Summary
From 17 June to 1 July 2025, NAWB conducted a fifteen-day Capacity Development Training on Braille Refresher and Unified English Braille for 20 teachers from 10 integrated schools in Koshi Province. Led by facilitators Mr. Homnath Aryal and Mr. Lok Bahadur Gurung, the inclusive training involved 12 BVI and 8 general teachers. The program covered Nepali Braille, Unified English Braille, and Mathematics, focusing on contractions, punctuation, coding, and advanced techniques for teaching math to BVI students. Participants also received refresher sessions on English Braille and training on accessible ICT, sports activities, and preparation of low-cost teaching materials. Field visits to Namaste Waterfall, Bhedetar, and a special school for the blind enriched experiential learning. The training strengthened teachers’ Braille proficiency, mathematical teaching skills, use of ICT tools, ability to create educational materials, and capacity to conduct inclusive sports and experiential learning activities, fostering peer learning and improved support for BVI children.
From 17th June to 1st July, 2025, NAWB conducted fifteen days- long training program on Braille Refresher and Unified English Braille to resource and visually impaired teachers of 10 integrated schools with BVI children at Koshi province so as to build-up their braille and overall teaching capacity. In the training facilitated by lead facilitators Mr. Homnath Aryal and Mr. Lok Bahadur Gurung, 20 teachers had made their participation. Presence of 12 BVI and 8 general teachers including women and persons with disabilities the training was found to be inclusive, disability and gender balanced.
The inauguration ceremony of the training was marked by Mr. Pawan Ghimire- the General Secretary of NAWB, Mr. Krishna Bahadur Karki- the Chairperson of NAWB, Sunsari, Mr. Madav Aryal- the joint treasurer of NAWB, and other distinguished guests from different renowned sectors the chief guest, Mr Damodar Fuyal, chief of the department of head from the ministry of Social Development, Koshi province and the program coordinated by Mr Ratna Kaji Dangol, program officer of Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind ( NAWB).
The fifteen days-long training specially covered three distinct subjects native Nepali, English and Mathematics. The first five days had been allocated for Nepali Braille , where participants learnt about Nepali contraction, punctuation, coding ,letters , word and sentence formation in Braille
,while the second five days had been allocated for Unified English Braille ”UEB”. The main focus of this UEB Braille was to make participants oriented with the contraction of English words that are being used universally so that there is uniformity in English learning and BVI children enjoy reading internationally printed English books. In conjunction to this, the participants were also given refresher training on English Braille so that forgotten and misunderstanding in English Braille is refreshed and their knowledge to English Braille is enhanced. Considering the fact that BVI children find mathematic a difficult subject for BVI children, the last five days was allocated for orienting the participants with the new and advanced techniques of teaching mathematic to BVI students.
The mathematical training started from a simple topics like learning the signages, punctuation, addition, subtraction, multiplication division to solving complex equations like simplification and factorization. This training was more focused to solve the unique challenge faced by persons with visual impairments learning mathematic. The session on accessible ICT facilitated by Mr. Pramod Bhandari- the principal of Nepal’s only special school for the blind acknowledges the participants on different accessible technologies that can be used by BVI children to enhance their academic excellence.
The contents of the training were delivered using both theoretical and practical methodology along with mood freshers like storytelling, focus group discussion and singing. In addition to training on Braille teaching, the participants were also trained on conducting indoor and outdoor sports activities and field trip to Namaste waterfall at Dhankuta and next day the famous place Bhedetar, highest peak, This activity was designed to promote learning through experience, helping participants absorb knowledge by seeing, feeling, and interacting with the natural environment.
The interactive and sensory experience helped reinforce natural learning through observation. The trainees were also taught to prepare teaching-learning /educational materials using the locally available materials like bamboo sticks, twigs, threads, bottoms. Leaves, papers etc. Last but not the least, the trainees were also provided an opportunity to observe the special school for the blind where they were allowed opportunity to visit science lab, music room, library, hostel, mess, yoga room and early intervention classroom. Their direct observation and interaction with the BVI children enlightened the trainees to assess the effectiveness of integrated and segregated schools in imparting quality education to BVI children. On 1st July, the fifteen days-long training was closed by head of education department of Dharan sub-metropolitan city Mr. Ganesh Khatiwada.
Through the training the participants were able to:
– Read and write Nepali, English and mathematic in Braille effectively;
– Solve mathematical equation;
– Adopt new methods to teach Braille;
– Conduct indoor and outdoor sports activities to BVI children;
– Prepare teaching-learning/educational materials using locally available materials;
– Understand nature and replicate similar experiences to other BVI children;
– Able to use different mobile and computer application to teach BVI children.
– Peer group learning and sharing.
