Message from Director

Community Learning Centers (CLCs)

The Community Learning Center (CLC) is a community owned institution outside the formal education system set up and managed by community people to provide educational and learning opportunities to the local community people for the development of community and improvement of the life of the local people. Non-Formal Education Center has established CLCs across the country as one of the approaches of the non-formal education programs. The CLC is made responsible to plan and implement non-formal education programs in the community level. This approach in the country was started in 2002 with the establishment of 5 Community Learning Centers (CLCs) as the pilot program with the financial and technical support of UNESCO, Kathmandu. The 10^th five year plan stipulates that 205 CLCs, one for each electoral constitution, will be established with the financial and technical support of the government of Nepal. Now 166 CLCs have already been established and being operated.  In addition, other CLCs are also in operation with the financial support of UNESCO, Kathmandu and NRC-NFE. Remaining 39 CLCs will be established within the last year of 10^th five year plan. The significance of CLCs can be summed up by looking at the following remarks that can be derived from discussion made so far:

Its major aim is to attain the principle of "Self-help of the community, by the community and for the community".

4.1 Objectives of CLC

The document analysis in relation to Community Learning Centers (CLCs) reveals that it has several objectives. They are to provide the basic education for all; to disseminate the developmental information to the people in the community; to develop necessary human resources to carryout developmental works in the community; and to work as the linkage agency between developmental agencies and the local people.

The discussion above clearly shows that the CLCs can play the role of change agent in the community level. This community owned and supported by the government of Nepal institutions may bring about substantial changes if they are managed properly by identifying factors that may obstruct its smooth functioning at the local level.

4.2 Functions of CLC

The document analysis and discussion with NFE experts depicts that it carries out different functions in connection to Community Learning Center (CLCs). These functions are to identify the need for  literacy programs in the community; plan and conduct literacy programs at the community level by  coordinating with District Education Office and other agencies; serve as an information and resource center in the community; mobilize the community for community development, education development and preservation and promotion of local culture and  heritage; mobilize the community for preservation and promotion of ancient sculpture, arts and other traditional culture; and plan and conduct various programs for youth  and children, etc.