PROMOTION OF 'SAHITYA SABHA' BY SWANIRVAR



SAHITYA SABHA IN FATULLAPUR SCHOOL

             Swanirvar started its Primary Education Department with a vision - "Evolve a more effective model for primary education (class I to IV, 5-10yrs age group)". Beside the bookish text memorize, we always encourage our students in different extra-curricular activities, like singing, dance, drama, recitation etc. From the time of inception, there were some cultural activities in our centres. On the other hand, we also send our teachers in different trainings/ workshops / symposiums and exposures to learn new techniques and methodologies and also to get new ideas from there.
In January, 1998 our teachers and supervisor went to Patha Bhavan, Shantiniketan School (founded by Rabindra Nath Tagore) located at Bolpur in Birbhum District of West Bengal. There they attended a cultural fest organized by the students. They also came to know that this was started by Rabindranath Tagore and the objectives of this programme were as follows:
a. To enhance the creativity and expansion of imaginations of the children.
b. Develop writing skills and promotion of self-expression.
c. Promotion of creative skills of the pupils.
d. Planning-Management-Review-lesson learnt;
e. Leadership development, etc
            Tagore also termed that programme as ‘SAHITYA SABHA’. We also came to know from the teachers of the Patha Bhavan that some the students who are not so good in the academic session but performing excellent in the Sahitya Sabha, also learnt that these programmes helped them to develop communication skills.
            Returning from Patha Bhavan, Shantiniketan the supervisor of Primary Education Dept. submitted a detailed report of the visit and also expressed the willingness to introduce Sahitya Sabha in our schools as well as local Govt Schools.
            First such sahitya sabha started in March, 2000 in Chandalati Swanirvar Primary School. In 2001, two more schools, Fatullapur and Andharmanik Primary schools organized two Sahitya Sabha. In, 2002 some local Govt Schools participated with us, a joint sathitya sabha was being held in which 12 Govt institutions participated. Gradually, Sahitya Sabha became very popular event in the academic calendar of an institution. On 20th August, 2005, Swanirvar Primary schools and 30 local Govt Primary Schools jointly organized a Sahitya Sabha and a symposium on recent trends in Bengali literatures. This was held in the premises of Katiahat F.P. School. Eminent poet, Krishnalal Maity and many local educationists participated in that seminar. They also praised us for introducing such action based skill development programme in curriculum. In 2006 all the schools organized small sahitya sabhas in their own institutions. 3 large scale joint sahitya sabha were held in 3 different schools in which many Govt institutions participated.

SAHITYA SABHA IN GOVT SCHOOL

             On 14th November, 2006 a big cultural programme, Sahitya Sabha was organized under the joint collaboration of Swanirvar and 2 Govt. Primary Teachers Associations. Students from Swanirvar schools and from 55 Govt institutions participated along with their parents. It was held in the community hall of Baduria Municipality. Minister of state SHG development, Mrs. Rekha Goswami, Md. Selim Gain, MLA Baduria, The Block Development officers of Baduria and Deganga, Local Gram Panchayat Pradhans, Many eminent writers, poets and educationists, Sailen Ghosh, Bhavaniprasad Mazumder, Shyamal Kanti Das, Avik Basu, Dr. Niranjan Banerjee, Deep Mukherjee etc joined in that programme. The entire programme was planned, managed, performed and directed by the different committees of students. Gradually sahitya Sabha became one of the popular events of the rural people. Whenever a school or a group of schools organized Sahitya Sabha, along with the parents the local villagers participated in those functions and sometimes gave some financial assistance.
             At present it has became a must for every rural institution in our project areas: Below there were a table of the sahitya sabha s organized in the schools from 2007 onwords...
Year                        No of Sahitya Sabha             Students        Teachers

2007 – 2008              10                                          589                 65
2008 – 2009              12                                          645                 80
2009 – 2010              11                                          632                 73
2010 – 2011              22                                          861                 149
2011 – 2012              36                                          1416               174
2012 – 2013             (till NOV) 26                            826                 122
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                       117                                          4969               663


Reported By,
Sri Prosanto Mondal
Supervisor, Primary Education Dept, Swanirvar
9732829202(M)

PROMOTING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN GOVT. HIGH SCHOOLS

Head Master of Piyara T H.S. performing with the students

       Swanirvar staff are now taking environment classes in 10 Govt High Schools and they also give various input in more than 30 Govt. High Schools. We also run innovative teachers NETWORKs with Mathematic, English and Work Education teachers. Beside the hand holding experiments in science and EVS we also encourage students on extracurricular activities like singing, dances, drama, amusing games, quiz, recitation, debates, extempore, etc. Most of the schools did not have any session/class on extracurricular activities. There are some innovative and enthusiastic teachers who had some skills but did not get any scope to introduce these in the class. One of our staff- musicians, Mr. Sakatulya Mondal selected 5 Govt schools - Pearah Tegharia High School, Kumudini Girls’high School, Maheshpur High School, Mandra High School and Keotsha High School and started music classes in the above institutions after the school hour. Presently, 859 students from 5 Govt High schools are now learning music (singing and playing Harmonium) from him. Some of the students who are not so good in their studies but doing excellent in the music classes. Moreover, they got the opportunities to perform in the school functions, sports day and also on special day’s celebration. Teachers who are interested in music and those who could sing or play musical instruments joining in these classes. They also are performing along with students in school programmes.

Scan of Photos in News paper report.

       Recently an open stage was built in the campus of Pearah Tegharia High School. One retired teacher, Mr. Subal Chandra Biswas donated money to make that stage. Mr. Biswas who was famous for his patronization in folk culture in the villages dies in a road accident. The stage was named as "Subal Biswas Smriti Mancha" and was inaugurated on 5th October, 2012. The student of Pearah Tegharia School who learnt music from Mr. Sakatulya performed  on that occasion. This report was published in no. 1 Bengali News Paper on 6th Oct, 2012 along with their photograph.

Reported by,

KKB Team, Swanirvar  

WEEKLY WEATHER BULLETIN IN GOVT HIGH SCHOOL

Using Rain Gauge

        Swanirvar staff was taking environmental science class in Jakir Hossain High School from 2003. Beside the regular bookish text we also introduced many hand held activities like- dustbin making and using dustbin in the classroom, segregation of waste, different surveys and data collection and data analysis, making different science models etc. With the help of our donor, AID BAY AREA, United State we gave maximum and minimum thermometer to the Govt schools and Jakir Hossain School also got one such thermometer. We also gave the students an orientation to note down the maximum and minimum temperature and also learnt them to keep the record on daily basis. The students of class VI were given the responsibility to keep the record and they did this with great enthusiasm.

Weather Information Board

        The enthusiasm of the students also moved the Geography teacher of the school. Mrs. Manashi Pramanik, Geography teacher purchased a hygrometer  and presented that hygrometer to the students of class VII. Last year, Swanirvar also donated a rain gauge to the school with the financial assistance from AID Bay Area, US. Then the students of VI, VII and IX were given responsibilities to measure daily temperature, humidity and rainfall respectively. To more teachers, Goutam Nath and Asit Mondal along with Mrs. Pramanik had made a small team of students and gave them practical orientations on – to collect the data, calculating minimum and maximum temperature, making charts and graphs and also taught them how to make charts and graphs from the collected database. With that extended large database they also were finding out the impact of climate change and its direct link upon the production of local crops and vegetables. They publishing their findings on the notice boards and also putting weekly weather forecast bulletin in the notice board.

Reported by:

KKB team, Swanirvar

Training (phase-I) given to the teachers of Narayantala Mass communication Society:

Interactive word making session

Narayantala Mass Communication Society (NMCS) is a Kolkata based Non-profit organization. NMCS’s mandate is to ensure the overall development of the downtrodden underprivileged section of our society in the area of - Reproductive Child health, Sexual Health, Women Empowerment, Basic Education, Child welfare and sustainable agriculture development. Narayantala Mass Communication Society (NMCS) has been working for quite some time with the migrant laborers in the brick kilns of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Save the Children has been supporting their efforts to improve the status of the Children, and ensuring their basic Rights for Education working in 30 Brick Kilns.


They had already sent their teachers for two trainings from two different NGOs. Recently they met another organization, Right Track who is doing similar kind of interventions with the down trodden children of slum areas. Right Track had taken trainings from us and now doing excellent works. They had found our training are more specific and object oriented. They got our contact from them. After brief communication, we send our staff on 11th September, 12 for a pre-training visit to their centre at Boyalghata, North 24 Parganas. We found that there were children from different places of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and some are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Most of them were dropouts (>95%) and parents were not interested to send their kids to schools. They did not have any permanent classroom or such place; they sit in a temporary tent in the corner of the brick kilns. These centres had no Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs) to use in the classroom. But we found that the teachers were enthusiastic and had enough empathy for these underprivileged. Returning from the project area, we made a need based curriculum for them.

The three days Phase-I( for class-I & II) training was given from 21st Sept to 23rd Sept, 12. One supervisor, one assistant coordinator, coordinator, and 27 teachers (all women) participated in that training session. They were given hand help trainings on TLMs making and also was taught how to use the TLMs. They were given trainings on Bengali, Mathematics, Environmental science, Arts & Crafts. They were given ideas on student management and time based segregation of curriculum. There was session on games and action rhymes, music so that the students become more active in the classes.

Soon we will send our staff for a follow up visit and he will also observe how they are actually implementing techniques in the classroom.

Reported by, Prosanto Mondal, 9732829202

TRAINING GIVEN TO THE TEACHERS OF WORLD VISION KOLKATA:



Trainees in the arts & crafts session

       Swanirvar started training and refreshers workshop cum training programmes from 2004. So far we have trainings to more than 1500 primary school teachers. Our clients were Govt. Primary & SSK teachers as well as teachers from different NGO run primary schools. Apart from the training programme we also helped our trainees to make new Teaching learning materials (TLMs) through the TLM workshops and also gave hand-held trainings to them on how to use TLMs in the classroom. We also gave our trainees a new set of TLMs after the successful completion of the trainings and those sets were designed through directly observed experiments and ground level testing.

        On 12th April, 2012 four Swanirvar staff went to the World Vision Schools for a pre-training visit. During our visit we found the following problems of this institution:

 1. Teachers/ volunteers were enthusiastic but they had no trainings.

 2. No lesson plan. Improper Class management.

 3. Most of the parents were not aware about their kids and not at all interested in their studies. Most of them wanted to engage their child as a labour. Etc

        On 4th May, 12 we discussed our observation with them and on 16th May they came to see our school and met with our trainers and teachers. They also met with our administrative officials. It was decided that Swanirvar would gave them a 5 day residential training to the teacher and volunteers.

        The training was started on 21st May, 12 at the training hall of WBVHA Tower, Kolkata. 13 trainees participated in that training programme. They were given on the following items:

• Pre Primary children: Primary work, Sensorial activities, primary math, cultural activities
• Primary children: On Bengali: Letters knowing, word making, sentence making, sentence expansion,
•  On EVS: classification living and non-living, materials that sink in the water and float on the water, nature made and manmade, primary colour to secondary colour, some games
• On math: number knowing, zero concept, place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, Division and problem solving.
•  On Art& craft: Fruit chain, tree making, circle, plain chain
• In all the session we taught them how to incorporate the TLMs and also given hand held trainings to use the TLMs in class room.
• They were also given trainings on making lesson plans and class room management.

 Soon we will send our staff for the necessary follow-ups.

 

Reported by,
Prosanto Mondal
Supervisor, SWANIRVAR

Training given by Primary Education Dept, Swanirvar

Dear friends,
Kindly click the following link to get the latest report -on training given to the primary school teachers by the trainers of Swanirvar's Primary Education Department from 2004
http://www.ziddu.com/download/19448431/traininggivenbyPrimaryDepartment22.05.2012.xls.html

Training given to the SSK teachers of Deganga Block on Mathematics for class-III& IV:

SSK teachers in the Mathematic training 

Date:  08.5.2012 Venue: Dakshin Kaliani SSK  Time: 11 AM to 4.30PMNo of SSKs : 6  ; No of the SSK teachers participated- 18

Back ground:

In 2004, Swanirvar gave major drive to improve the quality teaching in Govt Primary schools.Our initial objective was to identify the innovative teachers and giving trainings to them so that after that there would be a network of innovative teachers. These teachers would impart trainings in future. With our consistent efforts some of the teachers became very efficient and started doing many experiments in their schools.

Hand held training on TLM use.

In August, 2011 some of the innovative teachers who got regular inputs from us and 3 SSK supervisors met with our staff trainer – Prosanto and Gopal. They requested them for training cum workshop on English teaching. They also added that all the teachers met together four times on a month in their monthly meetings, most of the time they attended that meeting and there had administrative discussions but there was no discussion on teachers training and quality improvement of schools. These teachers also persuaded their union-leaders to draw the attentions of the higher officials. On September, 2011 Gopal and Prosnato sit with the – BDO, Deganga, Shiksha Karmadhakya (people’s representative in charge of Education), Samity Education Officer, 3 SSK Super visors, Teacher’s- Union leaders and it was decided that all the SSK teachers would get trainings from us and also Swanirvar would do regular follow up and monitoring in those schools. English Training was given to 60 SSK Teachers on 15^th September, 2011 and 28^th September, 2011 for the classes I &II.

After these trainings our trainers Julkalam , Gopal and others went for follow up visits. Their main intension was to access the changes in Classroom management, trainings, pedagogy etc after the trainings.

They found the following changes in the SSKs:

·         One of the teachers from each school participated in the two day English Training session. She shared her learning to others.

·         Though the English training was for the students of class I&II, some of the teachers who took classes only in Class-III & IV were unable implement their learning in the classes. They requested their school authority / supervisor so that they could teach English for the students of class-I & II.

·         Presently the students were using more social languages and instructions in the classrooms.  

·         A few teachers found very innovative during the training session/ TLM workshops and were encouraged to develop new TLMs by our supervisors and trainers. Some of them had developed interesting TLMs and had applied them in the classes.

Recently Govt of West Bengal had changed the syllabus of class –I to IV. All the schools had received new books. Most of the SSK teachers told us that new Mathematics books for class-III & IV were very hard for the students. They also were facing many problems to give lessons from those books. They also requested us to organize a TLM workshop as they did not have any TLMs which could be used along with new books.

Problems:

• ·         They could not properly use of Carry over on Subtraction.
• ·         Some problem to use of Numta / numeric table
• ·         The concept of LCF and HCF were not clear to some the teachers.
• ·         Some problem to understand prime and Compound numbers
• ·         The concept of factor  was not clear

On 8^th May, 2012 a workshop on Mathematic for class –III & IV was organized at the Dakshin Kaliani SSK . 18 teachers from 6 SSKs were participated. They were given extensive trainings on – LCF, HCF, Table, Prime & Compound no, factors, subtraction, addition etc. They were given hand held training to use TLMs in the classroom. At the end of the trainings the teachers requested us to organize a TLM workshop so that they could make TLMs for their schools. The teachers were amazed with the trainings and also bear the Tiffin expenses by their own. Some of the teachers expressed that it was the first time in their service life that they were taking trainings on a Govt holiday (8^th May was holiday in West Bengal) and also bearing the training cost from their own pocket. We are also looking for a positive outcome form that training.   

Our trainer, Julkalam and Gopal were regularly visiting these schools and assisting the trained teachers in implementing the methodology/ techniques in the classroom. 


Reported by:
Sri Prosanto Mondal
Supervisor

Lesson learnt workshop with TLMs exhibition and awareness meeting on RTE-Act



Sudeshna Sinha explaining how she manages English Teachers Network

Lesson learnt workshop with TLMs exhibition and awareness meeting on RTE-Act, 09  in Swanirvar in collaboration with WBEN, Shikshamitra and Local Govt High Schools

WEBN member on RTE awareness

            From 2004, we started taking Environment Studies classes in High Schools. Soon we met some innovative teachers who were very fed up and frustrated with the monotony of conventional teaching. We felt the need of networking so that these innovative teachers could share their ideas to others and also to exchange their experiences with each other. Initially, we realized that in most of the schools Work Education was the most neglected subject and the subject teachers had nothing to do and most of them were assigned to take different classes in the lower section. In July, 2008 we asked the work education teachers of the local High schools for a meeting in Swanirvar. They expressed their dissatisfaction to us and we told them that we could make a network and started some sort of new works in work education classes. Gradually the network started functioning in full phase and all the teachers participated for a monthly meeting cum workshop in Swanirvar. They learnt many new ideas on waste management – making toys and other decorative items form plastics and other waste materials, also learnt many hand held activities like jam jelly making, making greeting cards from hand-made papers, etc. They also implemented these in their respective schools. Gradually, we also proposed local Mathematics and English teachers to make similar network. In June, 09 Mathematics teachers Network and from Nov, 2009 English Teachers Network started. They also got various inputs from us and shared their views and experiences. 

             In Oct, 2010 we invited all the head of the institutions from where we had the assistant teachers who were the members of these networks. On that meeting most the principals expressed their gratitude to us and wished the success of these networks. On that meeting the Teacher In Charge (acting Principal) of Mandra Hazer Ali Smriti Vidhyapit told us that almost 30% students of class V could not read Bengali (mother tongue) and asked for our help. After that our Technical partner, Shikshamitra gave inputs on Bangali for the two months (continuous) and as a result it was found that these weak students started reading News Papers, even they expressed their understanding by their own and also drawing and also were looking confident.

Models made by Students

            In Dec, 2011 all the network teachers requested us to organize a symposium so that they could expressed their achievements to others. At the same time, West Bengal Education Network (WBEN) planning to organize a district level awareness meeting on Right To Education (RTE) Act, 09. We being the member of WBEN offered our meeting hall and campus to hold the meeting. It was decided that on 21^st January, 2012 a meeting on ‘Lesson learnt workshop with TLMs exhibition and awareness on RTE-Act, 09 will be held in Swanirvar in collaboration with WBEN, Shikshamitra and Local Govt High Schools’.

Participants looking English TLMs

Work education models display

            Principals from 14 Govt High schools, 25 Assistant Teachers from different Govt High Schools, 9 school-committee members (elected by the parents vote), 4 Panchayat members, 5 WBEN representatives, 4 experts from Shikshamitra, 3 retired teachers, 10 primary school teachers, 5 Journalists and some parents attended in that meeting. Different charts, posters, models made by the Govt School teachers were displayed. They displayed different TLMs and models on Mathematics, English and on Wok Education. Shikshamitra displayed the TLMs on Bengali. The Govt. teachers not only displayed their TLMs but also were present in the respective stalls and shared their experiences with visiting teachers. Some of them, described their observations and suggestions and usefulness of TLMs making and using in the classes. At the end of the meeting WBEN’s state representative, Chir Ranjan Paul gave us a vivid ideas and utilities of RTE act, 09.

Some Recommendations/ suggestions from the audiences:

1.      One of the Panchayat members who also the secretary of a school requested us for a similar network with the Govt. Primary teachers.

2.      Principals of 3 schools requested us for a motivational workshop.

3.      3 schools who were in our network expressed their willingness to join in the networks; also asked for the similar help in Bengali, Mathematics and English which was done by Shikshamitra in Mandra Hazer Ali Smriti Vidhyapit.

4.      Some of the teachers requested us for a class wise syllabus on Work Education also requested us to link with the market for selling the handicrafts made in the work education classes in the schools.

5.      Some of the teacher asked from the experts on the way to involve parents in the school development.

      6.  Almost all the schools requested us to carry out research to reduce school dropouts. 

Reported by,
Samir Biswas,
Supervisor, KKB, Swanirvar 

3rd quarter report - Oct-Dec, 2011 of KKB Department, SWANIRVAR

Kindly click on the following web link http://www.ziddu.com/download/18367149/3rdQuarterReport-KKB.pdf.html
to see the 3rd quarter report of Primary Education Department, Swanirvar.

3rd quarter report - Oct-Dec, 2011 of Primary Education Department, SWANIRVAR

Kindly click on the following web link http://www.ziddu.com/download/18367151/Primary-Oct-Dec-3rdqtrreport.pdf.html to see the 3rd quarter report of Primary Education Department, Swanirvar.

Strengthening Govt. Schools: Training given to the Govt. Teachers:

Use of TLMs

 

Hand held guide on TLM use in classroom

Julkalam, our trainer taking class on ' Word making '

Lcture of pedagogy

Quality improvement of the 60 Sishu Shiksha Kendra of Deganga Block:
           In 2004, Swanirvar gave major drive to improve the quality teaching in Govt Primary schools. Our initial objective was to identify the innovative teachers and giving trainings to them so that after that there would be a network of innovative teachers. These teachers would impart trainings in future. With our consistent efforts some of the teachers became very efficient and started doing many experiments in their schools. 2004- 2007 we regularly visited these schools and maintained liaison with these teachers. We involved them in joint sahitya sabha and also in Rakhi and other special days celebrations. Sometimes we invited some of the innovative and enthusiastic teachers in our workshops.

In, 2007 these innovate teachers demanded for a Mathematics training cum workshop from us. We were very happy and accepted their proposals. But we imposed certain conditions on them – 1. We told them that we would provide trainings and materials supports for this workshop but they had to bear the expenses of travels and food. The teachers accepted our proposal.  2. They also made an agreement with us on future monitoring and evaluation. On 26-27^th May, 2007 that workshop was held and 24 teachers from 15 SSK schools of Deganga Development Block participated. In that training session – the teachers learned teaching methodologies and also got hand held trainings on TLMs making and its applications in the classroom. This was a brainstorming for the teachers who were tired on taking just monotonous classes but it was a joyful learning for them. They shared their experiences in the teacher’s union meeting also conveyed that message to the SSK supervisors, Deganga Block. They also demanded for a similar workshop on Bengali. Gradually, a relation between Swanirvar and the teachers was developed. Whenever we organized training session- we invited some of the teachers to participate. They shared their learning experiences in the monthly meeting (these meetings are held four times in a month and is mandatory for the teachers to attend). In 2009, Block Development Officer, Deganga Block and Nodal Officer came to know about us from the teachers. They invited us to give a short demonstration on Pedagogy and TLM use in front of 60 SSK teachers and other Sr. officials from Education Department. They were very pleased and asked us to apply for a grant from the SSK mission but the applet authority was not interested in the activities that were not listed in their syllabus. SSK mission was little annoyed to see our activities on action rhymes and arts & crafts as these were not in their syllabus. So we decided to work with only 15 SSK schools in Deaganga Block.

In August, 2011 some of the innovative teachers who got regular inputs from us and 3 SSK supervisors met with our staff trainer – Prosanto and Gopal. They requested us for  organizing a training cum workshop on English teaching. They also added that all the teachers met together four times in a month in their monthly meetings, they attended that meeting just for administrative discussions but there was no discussion on teachers training/ empowerment and quality improvement of schools. These teachers also persuaded their union-leaders to draw the attentions of the higher officials. On September, 2011 Gopal and Prosnato sit with the – BDO, Deganga, Shiksha Karmadhakya (people’s representative in charge of Education), Samity Education Officer, 3 SSK Super visors, Teacher’s-Union leaders and it was decided that all the SSK teachers would get trainings from us and also Swanirvar would do regular follow up and monitoring in those schools.

SSK Teachers Training at Deganga block

1. 60 teachers from the 60 SSK schools were given training on basic English( for class –I &II)  on 15^th Sept, 2011
2. Similar English training cum workshop was held on 28^th September, 2011 with 62 teachers.  

From January, 2012 we are busy in assessing the impacts of our trainings. The compiled follow up report will be published soon. 

Reported by,
Prosanto Mondal
Swanirvar 

Pre-primary TLMs for the children of Purulia:

Pre-primary TLMs for the PRADAN students

On 24-25^th August, 2011, our trainers went to visit the 32 Primary Centres run by a famous NGO, PRADAN. These centres were at Jhalida Block (one of the most back ward blocks of West Bengal and also in India) under Purulia District.  It was our 1^st follow up visit after the completion of Phase-I trainings which was held on 25-29 October, 2010 at Swanirvar.

No rod making

            During our visit, we observed that in all the schools had a few children under 5 years old and they were doing nothing in the class. Moreover the teachers had no plan with them and they mostly came by their own timings and spend a few hours in the centres.  We asked the PRADAN officials about these children and came to know that most of their parents went to forest to collect woods leaving their kids in home and most of them send their children to the centres for safety and security. They also requested us to make a plan for these pre-primary children.

            On 19^th September, 2011 teachers of the primary schools (run by PRADAN) came for Phase-II training. We took them to pre-primary school at Margurkhali and gave them a short orientation on Pre-primary teaching methodologies and management. They also saw how the children were using TLMs and other classroom activities. After returning back to Purulia the teachers requested the PRADAN’s management to purchase pre-primary TLM sets for their 32 centres. After that we got order from PRADAN to supply 32 sets of TLM for their pre-primary students. Our staff made these sets in 15 days, these were 24 sets of TLMs for the below 4yrs children and 28 sets of TLMs for the comparative senior children. Very soon we will send our staff trainers to assess the TLM use in the centres and they will also give a practical orientation to the teachers on the TLM use in the classroom.

Reported by:
Prosanto Mondal
Swanirvar; Tel: 91 9732829202 

Primary Teachers-training to the children (Class III-IV):

On 13^th July, 2011 we visited the Pratap Pur Free Primary School at Durgapur. We were invited by a local NGO, Srreoshi. Srreoshi was the technical partner of Durgapur Alloy Steel Plant and was responsible to implement its CSR projects. Pratappur which was very close to that steel plant was one of the project villages of that CSR project and they were trying to make this village as a model village. One of their main objectives was to develop Pratappur FP schools and made it as a model institution in that locality.   

            After returning Swanirvar, we send them a feedback observation report. We wrote that – the school was lack of teaching learning materials (TLMs), there was no group activity and proper classroom management. But the positive aspect was that the teachers were very enthusiastic to learn and introduce new ideas. We told them to take subject wise trainings from us. They accepted our recommendations and requested us to make a training syllabus for the senior students (class _III & IV) along with the teacher’s trainings.

            Phase _I training from the teachers was held on 30-31 August, 2011. This training was on Bengali and Mathematics for the students of class –I and II. There was a session on TLM development and its use in the class room.  

            On 20-21^st October, 2011 we went to Durgapur for giving trainings to the Sr. students. They were given trainings on – Bengali, Mathematics and Art & Craft. They were divided into three groups. Three of our trainers given trainings to these three groups in different class rooms.  Details were given below:

   Gr-A   Class-III   Students-24:

Math: Fraction –concept, Counting – 1-24 Odd, even, gapping counting, Group formation: circle, half circle, Row, small group big group

·         Science: Primary and secondary colour

·         Language: Big words to Small words, Chkra Chart, word making from last letter, sentence making

from chakra chart, pictures and slip cards

·         Song and rhymes

Gr-B Class-IV Students-22

·         Math: Activity based TLM works for Addition and Subtractions , Game on math

·         Language: sentence making as above, sence expansion

·         Song and rhymes

·         Memory games

·         Kulartom( Kathi dance)

Gr- C  Classes: III  and IV   students-25

·         Meditation with a song

·         Origami: chain making, Circle shape with Varity  designs ,Fruits shapes, X-mass tree, Flower-vase, aroplane

·         Friendship  Programe: 12 children actively participated and made 10 letters about themselves with lovely pictures drawing on it. These letters already sent to  England for friendship program.

On 21^st Oct, 2011, all the students shared and presented some activities, action rhymes and kathi dance at the end of the training. The management staffs of Alloy steel plant, Srreoshi officials, and Local school teachers were also present.

Remarks

·         Students were energetic, helpful and actively participated in that refresher course.

·         Students had many doubts in their studies; they need such exposure so that they could share their realizations and doubts with others and got new ideas.

·         Some of them obsessed to gender issue but they got focus.

·         We found that some of the students who were not so good in academics but found very innovative in sense of leadership, drawing, singing and hand held activities.

Output:

·         This is new concept to us we are also looking for its outcome.

·         After getting the ideas on school friendship, the students of Pratappur FP have started friendship with a primary School of United Kingdom.

We are planning to introduce such refresher session in our primary schools from the next academic calendar.

Reported by:

Prosanto Mondal

Swanirvar