Enculturation of Children in Hostel (An Ethnographic Study of Pestalozzi Children’s Education Centre, Pokhara)
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Anthropology
Abstract
Enculturation is a life-long process of inculcation whereby an individual learns the principles,
values and symbols of social system in which he participates and the expresses them in the
roles he enacts. Hostel is the social agent away from home, would definitely play important
role in Enculturation process of the children.
The study was conducted in Pestalozzi Children’s Education Centre, Birauta-17, Pokhara
which was established in 2016. It is an INGO, non-religious, non-profit organization and
provides scholarship to high aptitude but socioeconomically deprived children from
government schools of rural areas of different districts of Nepal. It tenets the principle of 3Hs
(Head, Heart and Hands) principle of Pestalozzi.
The objectives of study were to explore the hostel life of children and to examine the hostel
strategies in an enculturation process of children in PCEC hostel. Census method was used
for sampling because the population was only 30 children (10 boys and 20 girls) aged
between 11-14 years old. The research is qualitative in nature. Qualitative data were used.
Secondary data comprised books, journals, articles and websites. Primary data was collected
through interview with children and staff, observation and Focus Group Discussion with
parents. Data was analyzed through qualitative method.
The children were from rural villages of 9 different districts of Nepal and belongs to different
ethnicity/caste. The hostel teaches responsibility, adjustment, adaptability, punctuality and
acceptability among the children. Friends and staff plays important role for sharing feeling,
learning, making safe environment of hostel. Hostel has formal structure and has lots of strict
rules regarding timetable, food, manner, punishment and rewards to keep the children in
discipline.
The children miss the family the most during festivals, excitement and low times. Hostel
provides self-development classes like carpentry, knitting, computer and gardening. To make
children independent, they have regular duties like cleaning, washing, helping in kitchen in
the hostel. The children learns about gender equality in hostel practically as boys and girls
participate in all the activities equally.
Description
Keywords
Hostel life, Enculturation process