The LBW Trust and Heartland Nepal

About Heartland Academy

An Australian teacher established Heartland College, Pat Price, in 2007. Pat, whilst visiting Nepal, was horrified to discover an education system based on rote learning in large classrooms, with order maintained by corporal punishment. Not surprisingly, the educational outcomes were poor and the dropout rate was high.

Pat decided to establish his own primary and secondary college (“the Heartland College”) based on an Australian approach – small classrooms and positive reinforcement, no beatings, continuous teacher development and high learning outcomes.

The College is governed under its own Nepali constitution (the Karuna Trust) with a majority of Nepali directors. The principal and all the teachers are Nepali but have been trained by Pat and his colleagues.

The LBW Trust and Heartland Academy

Since 2011 the LBW Trust has supported the Heartland College to build :

Specialty science labs;
A tertiary research and study library;
A computer lab;
Administration offices;
A canteen; and
A Year 11 and 12 extension – known in Nepal as a Plus 2 College, with three large classrooms. This section of the College facility is aptly named “LBW Trust – Batting for Change Plus 2 College”.

In 2018 the Trust extended our partnership to help the College expand into Teacher Training.

2007

Heartland College was established by an Australian teacher, Pat Price, in 2007.

2011

The LBW Trust supports Heartland College to build specialty science labs, a tertiary research and study library, a computer lab, admin offices and canteen.

2016

Heartland’s "Start-Up Project" initiative lets final-year students develop, pitch, and apply community projects they’re passionate about, utilizing skills gained during their College experience.

2024

In its history, Heartland has never had a national assessment failure. Of 1,082 graduates, 75% scored above 80%, with 90% securing full-time employment within a year. Many, especially women, return as teachers.