Ramesh Ghimire, a dedicated educator focused on delivering comprehensive progressive education, serves as the Principal Founder at Asia Pacific School. Located in the northern region of Dhapasi, Kathmandu, the school offers classes from Nursery to grade XII.

Ramesh Ghimire, a dedicated educator focused on delivering comprehensive progressive education, serves as the Principal Founder at Asia Pacific School. Located in the northern region of Dhapasi, Kathmandu, the school offers classes from Nursery to grade XII.

Asia Pacific School has introduced a progressive method of "learning by doing" with peers and has endeavored to apply it in practical scenarios. Mr. Ghimire has expressed his thoughts on the current status of progressive education in Nepal and the benefits of studying in Asia Pacific. Excerpts:

In recent times, there has been a lot of talk among academics about progressive education. But what does progressive education refer to?

Advocacy for progressive education in Nepal has recently begun. Developed countries have long embraced this approach, characterized by pedagogical strategies that engage students through play-way methods, enabling them to simulate real-life scenarios dynamically. This teaching approach is need-based, interest-based, and activity-driven.

Progressive education aims to integrate knowledge with skills, innovation, attitudes, and culture. How extensively has it been implemented in your school?

You have asked me a very important question. Philosophically, 'learning for life skill' is our motto. We are putting great efforts into linking learning with life by focusing on participatory education. Our effort is to globalize indigenous knowledge by connecting the local context with global knowledge. So, I frankly say that our school has been materializing the philosophy of progressive education in real life by immersing the students in activity-based learning.

Progressive education is known for being activity-based. In this context, what role could parents play in progressive education?

Progressive education involves conceptual learning. Our main goal is to promote this idea among students. Therefore, parents play a key role in creating a supportive environment and offering guidance to help realize our goal of fostering participatory and activity-based learning for students. The home serves as the initial school where parents are essential in shaping a child's physical, mental, moral, and ethical development and promoting responsibility. If the home environment is unsettled, a child may struggle to receive a quality education even in a good school.

In the traditional education system, students are evaluated based on the marks and grades they receive. In contrast, progressive education measures students' progress through their overall performance. How can we effectively communicate this to parents?

Progressive education envisions a triangular relationship among teachers, parents, and students. Initially, it is important to grasp that progressive education is experiential. Additionally, it is crucial to recognize that it is not merely a preparation for the future but rather a way of life. Knowledge is not a fixed category acquired through memorization; rather, it is fluid. Therefore, parents should be educated on the fundamental nature of progressive education. These insights could serve as persuasive tools for engaging parents.

In the current scenario, progressive education has become a prominent brand. While some schools provide genuine progressive education with significant investment, others merely assert to offer it. What sets Asia Pacific School apart and why should students choose to study here?

I have already shared with you the fact that progressive education is not preparation for the future but a process of living. So, our school delivers need-based and interest-based education adopting the pedagogy of progressive education. The school has been following a curriculum redesign to address the age-wise requirements of the students. Asia Pacific School is well equipped with both physical and pedagogical requirements.

Are there reliable foundations for preparing students to compete globally through this teaching and learning approach-progressive model?

Yes, there are various approaches we take to ensure our curriculum is comprehensive and competitive. Firstly, we base our curriculum on the educational framework developed by the Nepal Government. Secondly, we incorporate non-credit courses from well-established schools and developed countries. We also prioritize the use of advanced technological tools such as programming languages and robotics. Additionally, we focus on imparting practical knowledge and life skills to our students. By employing these approaches, we believe that our students can excel and compete globally.

Finally, what would you like to suggest to guardians and parents as the Principal of Asia Pacific School?

Asia Pacific School is an emerging educational institution that aims to provide the most advanced and innovative education to students preparing for a global context. As the Principal of the school, I invite parents and guardians to work together with us in providing the best possible education for our children. Our approach to education is progressive, and we strive to integrate local indigenous knowledge with global knowledge to prepare our students for a competitive world. Our goal is to empower our students with life skills that will help them succeed in their future endeavors. We do not believe in burdening them with excessive information but rather in immersing them in a world where practical and competitive skills are valued. Therefore, I urge parents and guardians to support us in our mission to provide a joyful and enriching education for our children.