It’s mid-day mealtime at the government school in Jigani. All 80 students gather in a 30 by 40 classroom where the meals are served- this hall also serves as a library, gathering area for morning assembly, parents meeting and other school events. In addition to this classroom, the school consists of a small office and…
Parental involvement is crucial to a child’s educational success, particularly in government schools. Despite its importance, many parents face significant barriers to engaging with their children’s education, including economic hardships, time constraints, and negative past experiences with schooling. This article explores parents’ reluctance to participate, the benefits of their involvement, and the role of school leaders like Ms. Kamalakshi in creating a supportive environment.
District Institutes of Education & Training (DIET) are government institutions that were developed to ensure educational innovation at the district level in India. Their primary role is to provide pre-service and in-service training to government school teachers and leaders. These institutions embody the principle of decentralization, envisioning DIETs to shape their design and training…
21st-Century Skills: The Need & Policy Mandates From hunters and gatherers, whose survival relied on keen instincts and primitive tools, to a civilization that has traveled to the moon and Mars, human civilization’s journey has evolved intellect, adaptability, and new skills. As we stand on the precipice of the 21st century, our existence is…
As an educator, I have always loved going to schools and meeting students, teachers, and other stakeholders. In the last few months, I had several opportunities to visit schools and meet the enablers of education there. As part of the newly launched program ‘Project Based Learning,’ I was on a field visit and went…
The best ideas emerge when very different perspectives meet – Frans Johansson …and better impact emerges when different approaches are combined. In the field of education as well, it takes all kinds to move the needle – whether we are working at scale, or in a small number of schools, or in teacher development,…
Back in April 2023, during a school visit in the district of West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, I was asked a peculiar question by a student of grade 6 while a few curious minds and I were having an interesting “let’s-get-to-know-each-other” conversation over lunch. She asked me in somewhat broken but comprehensible English, “Ma’am, what was…
“Confidence and determination come not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong.” What does a leader look like? Take a moment to envision that image. Does it include enthusiastic, innovative, and passionate children? While we might not typically associate children with leadership, it’s increasingly becoming a reality in schools in Karnataka’s…
Teacher education and training play a pivotal role in shaping the quality of education in any country. Recognizing the crucial role that teachers and teacher educators play in fostering effective learning environments, India, since its independence in 1947, has acknowledged the need for well-prepared and competent educators to drive educational reforms and advancements. Consequently, the…
Introduction Imagine a city with a vibrant park at its center. In this park, a group of children gather to play. The laughter echoes as they slide, swing, and climb with joy. Now, picture a scenario where the cost of entry to this playground is imposed on each child. Some children, unable to pay,…