Techie Nepal on a mission to help students learn digital skills 

KATHMANDU: The first phase of Techie Nepal was held on 2nd and 3rd April in Bethanchowk Rural Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) skill generation program, targeted to students of grades 9-12 in rural areas aims to provide technical skills like Python coding and digital designing.

It is an initiative by the Krinjal Foundation in collaboration with Media Vision Nepal with support from the Embassy of the United States of America. In the first phase, Techie Nepal taught basic coding skills to 30 students from four schools of Bethanchowk Municipality – Shree Parvati Higher Secondary School, Saraswati Secondary School, Aatma Bikash Secondary School and Krishna Gopal Secondary School.

In the two day-program, the students were first introduced to the process of algorithm development whereupon they became familiar with the basics concepts and execution of Python programming. While doing so, the program emphasized inclusivity on the basis of gender, religion and ethnicity.

The participating students responded enthusiastically to learn and implement Python programming. The supervisor/teachers of participating schools extended their gratitude for this new learning sphere in technology created by the US Embassy through the initiative of Media Vision Nepal and Krinjal Foundation.

Apsara Lama, a student of Grade 10 from Shree Atma Vikas Secondary School, expressed her gratitude for providing her the opportunity to learn coding. She explained, “I always imagined something on computers to be difficult and thought it would not match my interest, but this initiative changed my approach.”

Kshitij Raj Lohani, Founder of Techie Nepal, says that the programme is driven by the vision of introducing 600 students from various rural villages to STEM education through training.

The next phase of the program will begin at the end of May.