1.0 Introduction
2.0 Need
3.0 Structure
4.0 Status
1.0 Introduction
Children are inquisitive and natural learners. A good education
system recognises this, and facilitates learning by providing
a supportive learning environment that adapts to the child.
The current system focuses excessively on rote and passing
the examination. The current education system is not creating
opportunities for development of our citizens and country.
Thus, there is an urgent need for change.
The teacher plays the most crucial role in the education
system – to the child, she represents the entire system.
Learning is intricately linked to a teacher’s ability
to teach well. It follows that there can be no change without
the teacher’s active endorsement.
2.0 Need for
the Teacher program
Some of the issues with the current education system are:
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Teacher as a
disseminator of knowledge:
The teacher works with a Jug & Mug approach whereby
knowledge is poured into the empty mind of the learner.
However, in this information age, where children get information
form various sources like Internet, Television, CDs, etc
the teachers have to realize that she cannot be just another
source of information. Instead, she has to be the one
who helps the child to filter knowledge from information.
She must help the child construct knowledge and enable
him to become a continuous independent learner.
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Memorizing is
learning:
Learning and Memorizing have become synonymous to each
other as understanding and application have taken a back
seat in the process of education.
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Everyone learns
the same way:
Each of the children learns the same way and thus the
curriculum and assessment is transacted through standard
means. Each child must adapt to the school rather than
the school understanding the needs of the child
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Education is
compartmentalized and finite
Education is restricted to rigidly defined subject-wise
content which is independent of the child’s history
and environment. It does not extend to life- skills and
value systems. Thus Children learn there is only one right
answer to a question and thus do not search for better
ways of solving the same problem.
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Questioning
is discouraged
Students are taught to obey and they learn not to question.
Questioning is considered questioning knowledge and questioning
the authority of the teacher. Children realize education
is boring
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3.0 Current Structure
The Teacher Programme is a programme to empower the teacher
with the perspective and tools necessary to initiate change.
Spread over 2 academic years, the Teacher Program is a mix of
dedicated modules and on-the-job support for teacher effectiveness.
The program works at the belief, skills and attitude level of
the teacher. The first step is working on the belief levels
of the teacher. The need for change and the role teachers could
play in bringing about that change is explained to the teachers.
Collaborative learning, group discussions, practical teaching
aids and innovative techniques such as Mind Maps and Circle
Time are employed to get the children interested and involved
in what they are learning. This encourages children to understand
and assimilate rather than just memorize. The teachers are equipped
with latest pedagogical techniques to manage the curriculum
and the classrooms better.
This is achieved through series of workshops that equip the
teacher with newer and proven teaching methodologies. The workshops
are planned in a manner to give the teacher enough time to try
and implement what she has learnt in the workshops. The School
Based Support ensures that the teachers are also assisted by
our trainers during this period (assistance is also provided
after the workshops, if such a need is felt) to help them assist
in implementing the learnt techniques in the right manner.
Each of the cities has a different program customized to suit
the needs of that particular city. The details of the Table
of Content of various programs are mentioned
1. Bangalore
2. Delhi, Hyderabad,
Mumbai
3. Chandigarh,
Dehradun
4. Jaipur
5. Ahmedabad/
Baroda
6. Chennai
7. Pune
4.0 Current
Status
The Teacher Program was launched in May 2001 with 100 teachers
from 5 schools of Bangalore. It today covers more than 2000
teachers (Standards 1-8) across more than 100 schools in 11
cities. (See Reach
of the program for details).
The program is open only for teachers teaching in schools which
are/would like to be a part of the program. Atleast 80% of the
teachers of the participating school must undergo the program
so that there is a critical mass desiring change and are capable
to change. It covers teachers teaching from Standard I to Standard
VIII.
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