Universalization after RTE 2009 What do we mean by universalization ? 2.2 crore kids each year 17 crore kids covered by RTE Act 670 districts. Each with about schools

The universe has large numbers 670 districts. Each with schools About 1.2 million schools, nationwide About 6 million primary school teachers, 2.1 million secondary school teachers.

Maharashtra : 36 districts, 400 blocks. About 150 schools to a block. If we can show universalization in one block…. ….. Can we ?

Good Quality Education What do we mean by education of good quality ? Article 8 of RTE: “good quality” enters law 8.g “The appropriate government shall ensure good quality elementary education conforming to the standards and norms specified in the schedule” After RTE 2009, mere enrolment not legal

NCF 2005 : What is good quality education ? Article 7 : NCF 2005 notified as the national curricular framework NCF 2005 : Good quality education defined as that which overcomes inequality into which the child is born NCF 2005 : Equality of opportunity not enough. Good quality education must deliver ‘equality of outcomes’

What is good quality science education ? “All children learning science mainly by doing and questioning” GQSE builds scientific temper Article 51 A

A : The content issue What are the resources necessary for GQSE ? Can these resources be created at every school in the country ?

Universalizing the Universe For science learning, the real world is far more powerful than virtual world. The real world is available in and around every school. Hence, “Universalizing the Universe”. We use the term “Universe” as the real world around every school, in every village, in every town… Rural government schools richer than elite urban private schools

One of the objectives of this workshop is to start a process to arrive at this initial basket of resources over the next few months. There is a wealth of resources.A huge repository, What is missing is a selection process. Selection by what criteria ? Firstly, the curricular selection The selection process-what criteria ?

selection for accessibility and popularity with children. The ‘Wow’ factor simple but non trivial low cost or no cost From wow to why and how Can be transacted by every school teacher and student Open source- freely available More criteria for selection

How to validate these selected resource materials ? by a committee of experts ? or by the practice and feedback of hundreds of teachers And thousands of students …

Can we conceive of targeting universalization as a scientific problem ? What can be the processes and systems for achieving universalization over a finite period of time ( say four to five years) ? Who can be the stakeholders for this ? Can we build a scientific community for UGQSE ? B : Universalization as a scientific process

Can we target universalization of GQSE by a method of successive approximations ? By a process of step by step continuous improvement What are the systems and first steps necessary for progressing towards this objective ? ‘Good’, followed by ‘better’- for both content and organization… Continuous improvement

Can we collectively put together an introductory package to initiate this process ? Can we build this effort as a chain reaction ? What will be the initial seeds ? How will these seeds replicate ? How to reach critical mass for a self sustaining process ? Chain Reaction

Governmental Support How can we enlist governmental support for this effort ? Can we target this objective irrespective of governmental support ? Can we build an irreversible and unstoppable process for UGQSE ?

Organising for Universalization Can we collectively put together an introductory package to initiate this process ? Who can be the initiators ? Who are the stakeholders ? How to enlarge this collective ? What financial resources will be required ? How to build in self reliance ? How will this effort be organized ?

What is a road map for the above ? What are the steps for the first year ? Road Map and first steps

UGQSE poses big questions, but not too big for the experience and collective wisdom of those who are gathered here- and the many more who are not here.