Dipak Lamsal, an English teacher at Purnamrit Bhawani Secondary School in Waling Municipality, Syangha District, Nepal, embarked on a transformative professional journey through the Quality School Quality Education (QEQS) program. This initiative, a partnership between Waling Municipality and the British Council, significantly reshaped his approach to teaching and professional growth.
When Dipak was appointed as the focal person and resource teacher by the Mayor of Waling Municipality in 2022, he initially saw the role as another responsibility added to his workload. However, his perspective took a dramatic turn after attending a local trainers' workshop in Pokhara alongside colleagues from Kawasoti Municipality. There, he directly engaged with Kawasoti officials and teachers who shared valuable insights and best practices from their collaboration with the British Council. Hearing firsthand how these practices had supported their continuous professional development and enhanced classroom effectiveness opened his eyes to the potential impact of such initiatives.
Dipak's involvement in the British Council workshops became a keystone of his professional development. Through these sessions, he refined his classroom practices and embraced innovative teaching strategies that had a direct, positive impact on his students’ learning outcomes. A vital part of his growth was his role as a mentor in the Action Research and Mentoring Scheme (ARMS) program. In this capacity, Dipak didn’t just guide his mentees—he empowered them. He led them through a structured process of planning, action, observation, and reflection, helping them develop meaningful research questions, design effective interventions, and set clear objectives. He encouraged a critical, analytical approach to problem-solving and provided actionable feedback, allowing mentees to refine their methods and elevate their research outcomes.
Beyond guiding them academically, Dipak equipped his mentees with practical skills in data analysis, report writing, and effective presentation. This mentorship nurtured a culture of reflective practice, encouraging teachers to evaluate and improve their methods continuously. As a result, there were noticeable improvements not only in his mentees’ professional capabilities but also in the learning environments they created.
The impact of Dipak’s dedication to CPD—and that of other educators in Waling—was reflected in students' performance. In 2023, Purnamrit Bhawani Secondary School achieved a 100% pass rate in the Secondary Education Examination, with a significant number of students securing a GPA above 3.5. Moreover, over 80% of students across Waling Municipality demonstrated remarkable improvement in English, with many scoring above 75%. These outcomes serve as compelling evidence of how targeted professional development initiatives like the QEQS program, facilitated by the British Council and Waling Municipality, lead directly to improved student achievement.
Through the sustained support of the British Council and Waling Municipality, Dipak not only transformed his teaching methods but also played a vital role in his students’ academic success. His journey stands as a piece of powerful evidence of the critical role of continuous professional development (CPD) of teachers in driving educational excellence and empowering teachers to achieve their fullest potential.
