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

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

Thiruvannamalai District

Relevant Statistics 18 blocks 1851 schools targeted Fulltime district level coordinator 3 offices Aser 2006 SURVERY from 1st to 8th standard –14.6% could do simple division, –32.1% could do subtraction –86% could recognize numbers. –13.9% children could not even recognize numbers

Reading and Math Stats 3 rd -5 th Std Children in the District The Child’s Reading Level… % in Oct 06% in Mar 07 Can Read Stories Cannot read stories but can read sentences Cannot read sentences but can read words Cannot read words but can identify letters Cannot even identify letters

Refer to word Doc. Proposal line items

Concerns & Issues What will be the level of involvement of AfE in this district ? Will there be exclusivity ? How to ensure the sustenance of the project when there are issues/problems with the coordination team in center If any other district runs into trouble, will that affect the materials provided to Tiruvannamalai district How to ensure “enough” reading materials are provided? How to define “enough”

Concerns and Issues How to control the quality of the reading materials Random assessment of schools pre and post program… Should we use NCERT or Asha Chennai/Honour? How to mobilize asha-wide projects in this district to adopt this program ? Project SURP, Project VISA, Project WARM