Round Table on Innovations in Education PARISAR ASHA at the Round Table on Innovations in Education June 23, 2007 Hyderabad  

* PARISAR ASHA THE PREOCCUPATION * From Sanskrit: parisar - environs asha - hope

The Parisar Asha VISION and SERVICE THRUST Since 1982, Parisar Asha (PA) has offered the Environmental Studies Approach To Learning (ESAL) and related implementation strategies to the Formal Education System, to combat oppressive rote-learning and its attendant evils (It has borne in mind felt needs and realistic constraints, relating to the learning environment.) b)to Non-Formal Education, in an attempt to offer a productive future to drop-outs from the Formal Education System

The ESAL and Formal Education The ESAL is an approach to learning that covers every subject in the prescribed syllabus / curriculum required to be used by schools preparing ultimately for the Std. X Board Examination(SSC, CBSE, ICSE). Parisar Asha has worked since 1983 at the Pre - School and Primary School Levels, and since 1993, at the Secondary School Level. It has worked with Government Schools, Grant-in-Aid schools, and Unaided Schools (State Certificate, CBSE and ICSE) in urban and rural areas. It has worked with schools using the Language Media of English / Marathi / Gujarati / Hindi.

Intensive In-Service Training, to cover: SPECIFIC SERVICES Intensive In-Service Training, to cover: Planning, Co-ordination and Evaluation Strategies (for Supervisors/Heads) The ESAL Methods, for Teaching / Learning Efficacy in the Classroom Follow - Up, towards Timely Problem-Solving Assistance with Parent Meetings Training to Teach Marathi in English-Medium Schools.

Teaching / Learning Materials: SPECIFIC SERVICES Teaching / Learning Materials: a) Materials for Teachers:. Syllabus Plans, Weekly Guidelines (for the Learning Process to be followed in Stds. KG - VII) Teaching / Learning Apparatus, to facilitate Participatory Activities and ‘Hands-On’ Learning, Audio - Visuals / Slide Shows, offering stimuli for interactive learning exercises.

Teaching / Learning Materials: SPECIFIC SERVICES Teaching / Learning Materials: b) Materials for Students: These materials, whether the Fun Worksheets for the Nursery, Activity Worksheets for the Kindergarten, or Worksheets for Primary and Secondary School Students : help the student become an independent learner provide newly-designed worksheets each year, to maintain a fresh outlook and keep pace with an updated information base , ensure that there is less expenditure for students and their parents.

PARISAR ASHA’S CURRENT OUTREACH GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: Predominantly: Mumbai, Pune and Districts of Maharashtra To a very limited extent: Delhi, Agra, Goa, Ujjain, Shillong Just entered: Sri Lanka

STATISTICALLY: Average number of schools, per year: 59 Average number of Teachers, per year: 780 Average number of Students, per year: 38,000 Average Annual Charge, per Student, for Package of Programme Services Rs. 260

The Ecology Sensitization Project (ECOSP) … READY TO FLY !