EQUIP Project

Problems addressed 50% children in 5th standard cannot read a paragraph in Tamil. 10% cannot even identify letters. 50% children in 5th standard cannot even subtract two 2- digit numbers. Science education is just rote memorization – no concepts, no experiments, no connection with the real world. Many 4-year-olds in balwadis cannot even match two identical pictures - something even 1-year-olds in middle class families easily do.

Reasons for this state No School Focus on Basic Skills: Focus on exam mark & textbook memorization and not on ensuring basic skills. Lack of Learning Resources: No access to learning resources. Schools and teachers have no libraries, no reading materials, no activity kits, no science experiment materials, etc. Balwadis have no learning aids or even simple toys. Ineffective Methodology: Teachers lecture and read out from books. There is no focus on activities or even demonstrations in class. No avenues for children to think independently or to work in groups or to learn by doing. Poor training of teachers. Teachers are not trained in practical ideas nor on good teaching methodologies. Low community involvement: Low community interest and involvement in education. Poor children have no access to a learning environment at home.

Two Pronged Implementation Strategy Improve Learning Quality in Schools We work with teachers to bring about measurable improvements in specific learning skills like reading, maths and science. We train and motivate teachers, provide teaching learning materials and change classroom practices through regular visits and practical demonstrations. Create Community Learning Initiatives We mobilize village volunteers, train them and start village libraries, children’s learning centers, form science clubs, math clubs, sports clubs, etc. We also get the community volunteers to both help schools improve as well as to pressurize schools to deliver quality.

Results So Far Primary Education: –Improving Reading Skills of Children –Improving Basic Math Skills of Children Pre-primary Education –Visual Recognition, Counting, Motor Skills and Sensory Skills –Pre-reading and pre-writing skills Secondary Education –Science Education –Math Education –Life Skills and Health Education Community Initiatives and Community Learning Centers –Village Libraries and Children’s Clubs –Science and Math clubs –Support Centers and Summer Campaigns 450,000 children in 7300 schools improved their Tamil reading skills through our Padippum Inikkum Reading Campaign. Across 5 districts, children who can read went up from 54% to 85% within 5 months of our starting the reading campaign!

Padippum Inikkum Group activity based reading program Aim: Is to bring rapid improvement in reading levels of a child Structure –Initial Evaluation and Categorization into 5 levels –Everyday 1hr level specific activities –Child-to-Child reading methods –Reading materials and story boards to make it a fun event

Impact of PP Reaches about 4,50,000 children Teachers are taking more active participation in these activities

Padippum Inikkum Levels 5 Reading Levels Level 4: Child Reads stories fluently Level 3: Child Reads sentences but not stories Level 2: Child Reads words but not sentences Level 1: Child Reads letters but not words Level 0: Child Cannot even identify letters

Arivial Anandam Do-it-yourself experiments for children Low cost science experiments as a means to teach Encouraging a child to think and come up with their own experiments

Impact of AA 1,30,000 Children in 900 schools are benefitting currently Children are able to relate real world science phenomena and able to quote it in their answers, instead of memorizing and repeating the books

Eureka Public Library Community based learning using “Library in a Bag” concept Aim is to use this as a booster to Padippum Inikkum program When community involves, the schools feel responsible to deliver better quality education In addition to library style learning, additional activities with games, fun events and activities etc. Encourage formation of children clubs

Impact of EPL This is still in experimental phase 90,000 children in 2000 villages are using this right now Several constraints to implement the program.. e.g. finding volunteers in villages is hard Providing reading materials appropriate for the age and sufficient amount is difficult

Proposal

Changes The project has been changed from original Tiruvannamalai district to Sivaganga district

Sivaganga Details Revenue Divisions 2 Taluks 6 Blocks 12 Town Panchayats 12 Revenue Villages 521 Panchayat Villages 431

ASER Findings in 2005

EQUIP Update Reading program started in all the 12 blocks Science and library programs in 7 and 4 blocks Of the 1108 primary schools in the district, we started a low intensive reading campaign 1054 schools From these schools, 695 schools were identified, where the teachers were very enthusiastic and are now running an intensive reading program (Padippum Inikkum Intensive program) in these schools The science program is running in a total of 215 schools and the libraries are being run in 250 villages with the help of 4 local NGOs.

EQUIP Update

Padippum Inikkum Details Campaign started at the end of Aug –Padippum Inikkum School and Village Intensive Program: To be done in schools that are cooperative and where teachers are willing to do reading evaluation and in villages with village volunteers. –Padippum Inikkum First Step Program: To be done in all schools for the 5th Std students to pull up children who have difficulties in reading words or sentences. –Reading Melas: District team also planned a series of reading melas in villages to generate excitement about reading.

Padikkum Inikkum Details Key Points –Good rapport with district administration –After the initial 2 block pilot program, with AshaSV support it was expanded to full district –Positive praise regarding the materials used for the reading program

PI Intensive Classes 695 Schools Villages with children Consists of very enthusiastic teachers In 386 villages, volunteers are identified and through them reading kits of 1 st and 2 nd grade were provided.

PI First Step 1084 schools in the 12 blocks Less Intensive classes for the 5 th standard students Does not have 5 level groups. Instead have 3 levels (can read, cannot read and partial ability ) Teacher training and materials were provided. This is the first step towards launching the full fledged program

Reading Mela In order to encourage reading outside of school It was first conceived by Sivagangai team and later used in other districts Entire community is involved. Unlike school, children ask the questions, while adults respond.

Eureka Children’s Library Started out with 250 libraries in 4 blocks 7620 children part of this scheme Training for volunteers to engage children in various activities (21 training sessions) Children converted the stories to dramas –162 village level drama were performed –17 of these were selected for block and district level –30 children from district participated in state level drama

Arivial Anandam Running in 214 schools in 7 blocks and 50 village science clubs At present they have completed exhibition in 7 schools. Every 2 months after a round of training and a kit for 10 experiments on one topic is provided School Science Clubs: We are forming clubs in school level for children interested in science. We have started these in all the 214 schools State is borrowing some of the ideas for its Activity Learning Method program Information from Arivial Anandam is spread to about 422 blocks (all 12 blocks in Sivangangai by the state) through video cd’s prepared by the team.

Future Plans The fulltime team is also getting built quite rapidly. The documentation and communication systems in the district are still weak. It is important to supply some material every month to the schools. Monthly education magazine – for teachers and volunteers – to ensure this need is met. Sales of low cost science and language books in schools and villages through our volunteers and fulltimer. Expansion Plans –Reading program to all the 1000 schools and 450 villages in all the 12 blocks in the district. –continue the science program in the 7 blocks –organize a series of village level and block level exhibitions and young scientist network activities. –increase the number of village libraries from 250 to 300 in the next 3 months.

Q & A