Development Ratings

The Pestalozzi Overseas Children’s Trust (POCT) was established in 1995. It is the sister charity of Pestalozzi International Village Trust (PIVT), a UK charity that brings gifted children from poor backgrounds in developing countries to be educated at secondary school level in the UK. POCT was set up due to the limitations on the number of scholars that PIVT could take, PIVT’s change to taking only scholars over 16, and the recognition of the need to cost-effectively spread secondary educational opportunities locally in developing countries.

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827), a Swiss humanitarian and educator, taught orphaned children at the turn of the 19th century. His philosophy of ‘Head, Heart, and Hands’ aims to develop well balanced adults through teaching them academically (Head) and practically (Hands) as well as morally and socially (Heart). An educational village following his principles was set up in Switzerland, and then a second, PIVT, in the UK in 1958. PIVT first included European and Tibetan children and now children from other developing countries.

In Nepal, education is free, but schools are poorly maintained, under-funded, and under-resourced. Primary education in Zambia and Malawi is free, but secondary education is not available in rural areas and is fee paying. The Tibetan scholars are refugees from China. Education in Tibet is considered poor quality and few Tibetans complete secondary education. In India, only 50% of girls attend secondary school.

There are other organisations awarding secondary scholarships in the countries POCT targets. With a large number of children in need of scholarships, no competitive overlap is likely with these other organisations.