1. EQUIP Project www.eurekachild.org

2. Problems in 2007 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Methodology Primary Education: –Improving Reading Skills of Children –Improving Basic Math Skills of Children –Continuous Evaluation of Children –Corrective Measures being Applied so as to help teachers identify the kids who need additional help Secondary Education –Science Education Community Initiatives and Community Learning Centers –Village Libraries and Children’s Clubs –Science and Math clubs –Support Centers and Summer Campaigns

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

7. EQUIP Sivagangai Summary Impacts 127,961 students Reading program was conducted last year in all 12 blocks and 1119 schools The science program is running in a total of 360 schools Library program is being run in 300 villages with the help of 4 local NGOs. Summer camp was held in 1320 villages 25 Rallies and 264 melas were held for community awareness 75 villages have the children club 54 teachers attended the network workshops

8. 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

9. 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

10. PI Affects 90,671 children Schools where Reading program is being implemented NoBlockNo. of Schools we are working in 1Manamadurai86 2Sakkotai98 3S. Pudur57 4Kannankudi42 5,6Singampunari + Thirupathur196 7Thiruppuvanam107 8Ilayangudi97 9Sivagangai122 10Kallal75 11Kalayarkoil142 12Devakottai97 Total (for 9 blocks)1119

11. 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

12. AA affects 31,834 children Block NameNo.of schools Sivagangai 32 Singampunari 17 Ellayankudi 13 S.Pudur 16 Tirupathur 32 Tirubuvanam 34 Manamadurai 28 Total172

13. Library Program 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

14. Library involves 5,456 children Block NameNo.of Libraries Manamadurai50 Devakottai50 Thiruppuvanam50 Thiruppuvanam70 Kaalaiyaarkovil50 Sivagangai50 Total320

15. Total Funds Received from Asha SVINR 2,869,275.00 1st Installment Received from Asha SVINR 1,368,500.00 2nd Installment Received from Asha SVINR 1,500,775.00 Total Expenses on project from Sept 07 to July 08INR 3,001,158.00 Reading + Math ProgramINR 1,407,153.00 Science ProgramINR 556,113.00 Village Libraries ProgramINR 556,301.00 Festivals, Events and WorkshopsINR 66,904.00 Training, Coordination, Evaluation and Program SupportINR 341,196.00 AdministrationINR 73,491.00 Excess of Expenditure over Funds ReceivedINR 131,883.00 Budget 2007-08

16. Impact of PI Reading Program: Sample evaluation on 17700 children in 400 schools in the beginning and at the end of the program. The evaluation showed: In Standards I and II: The number of children who couldn’t even recognize letters has come down significantly, by 22%. Children able to read words have also increased, by 16.3%. In Standards II, IV and V: The number of children who could read at least sentences (which includes stories and sentence levels combined) has improved from 67% to 79%, an improvement of 12%.

17. Reading Skill Improvement with the program

18. PI Improvements Snapshot of progress Std 1+2: % children who can read letters or more 57.9 71.9 72.6 88.4 0 20 40 60 80 100 Nov 2006Aug 2007Nov 2007Mar 2008 % chi ldr en Std 1+2: Letter or more

19. Impact of AA Children are able to relate real world science phenomena and able to quote it in their answers, instead of memorizing and repeating the books Science Program: Evaluation of the science skills of 700 children in the 7th and 8th Std. For this evaluation, we randomly selected 10 children in 70 schools (10 schools/block). The children were evaluated on whether they do and explain 40 selected experiments. The evaluation showed that: 98% of children were able to do 20 experiments and 84% of children were able to do as well as explain 20 experiments correctly. 49% of children were able to do all 40 experiments and 26% of children were able to do and explain all 40 experiments correctly.

20. AA results

21. Impact of Library Program This is still in experimental phase 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

22. Staff Information Total staff: 55 (52 Field Staff + 1 District Coordinator + 1 Asst coord + 1 Admin Asst). (This does not include state team as they work on multiple projects). Number of teachers trained last year: Close to 2000 teachers. Number of Administrative Staff (Please list positions: e.g., peon, clerk, etc.) last year: 1 - Admin Asst in the District Same details for Volunteers, if any: 1320 volunteers (participated in the summer camp) The Field Staff are called Block Resource Persons (BRP) - They are not teachers, but they visit schools and demonstrate reading, math and science classes to teachers and provide materials and training to teachers. They also help in conducting evaluations, get feedback on the materials and usage. The total number of BRPs = 52. They are in the following categories: Reading + Math BRP= 34 Science= 12 Library= 6

23. ABL v/s PI TN Government introduced ABL (Activity based learning) all across the state Text books were converted to cards Pros The government ABL program achieves the reading to a small extent Cons But it does not help in identification and improving the kids who need attention ABL also does not account for teacher participation

25. ASER 2006 to ASER 2007: Reading Level Changes These are the changes in reading levels between Nov 2006 and Nov 2007 – From ASER Reports

26. Content In the Past Today ABL Tomorrow ABL+PI Additions Proposed Infrastructure        Teachers        Enrollment        Child Friendly Classroom      Group Activities    Level Specific Group Activities Resource Materials    Dynamic & Graded Materials Activity Tracking    Simpler but Effective Tracking Learning Outcome Evaluation    Reading and Math Skill Evaluation Remedial Classes for reading and math    Daily Remedial Classes School Libraries for Reading Enrichment    Materials to build and sustain newly acquired reading skills. Learning outcomes that each system will achieve in 3 years (#: ASER results, *: Our Estimates) Learning Outcomes in 3 years predicted 35% # 40% * 85% * Age appropriate fluent reading and arithmetic skills

27. Future Plans

28. PI Intensive Program Key Points –PI Intensive is the primary differentiator from ABL. With this program, the students who are lagging behind are identified and corrective steps are taken (evaluation + correction) Intend to start off this in 500 schools of Sivagangai where there is increased teacher participation. Students are given new texts and not allowed to memorize More co-ordinators per school Small library in PI Intensive schools But costs increase due to this too –Continue PI program in remaining schools to emphasize teacher participation –Math Intensive Program in 120 schools –PI Intensive being conducted in 10 other districts with CIFF aid –Government has asked for story cards from AID –Work with government so that ABL adopts the methodology of evaluation + correction

29. Other Program Expand AA it to all high schools (414) of Sivagangai from 360 Expand Village libraries to 500 villages from 300 Start Community Learning Centers (CLC) in 60 villages which have village libraries Start 120 Balvadis State is borrowing some of the ideas for its Activity Based Learning Method program, and also asking AID to expand the AA program. Need to work with the state to adopt these into their syllabus

30. Budget Request 2008-09 Heads Reading + School Lib Intensi ve Reading + Math Outre ach Math Inten sive Science Village Librar y CLC Pre- prima ry Blocks12 4 844 Units500 schools619 schools120 schools414 schools 500 village s 60 villages 120 Balwa dis Fulltimers206624838 People CostRs. 720,000Rs. 216,000 Rs. 864,0 00 Rs. 288,0 00 Rs. 108,000 Rs. 288,0 00 Material Cost Rs. 1000,0 00 Rs. 247,6 00 Rs. 180,000 Rs. 496,8 00 Rs. 600,0 00 Rs. 120,000 Rs. 240,0 00 Coordinatio n Rs. 150,000Rs. 60,000 Rs. 60,000 Rs. 144,000Rs. 120,000Rs. 48,000Rs. 60,000 Admin (10%) Rs. 187,000Rs. 52,360Rs. 45,600Rs. 150480Rs. 100800Rs. 27600Rs. 58800 Program Budge t Rs. 2057, 000 Rs. 575,9 60 Rs. 501,6 00 Rs.1655,2 80 Rs.1108,8 00 Rs. 303,6 00 Rs. 646,8 00 Grand Total Rs. 6848,600 = $ 163,000

31. OptionParticularsTotal Budget A Asha SV supports to the total project above. This is the of course our most desirable option! $ 163,000 B Project is implemented as above without scaling down. Asha SV supports the Intensive components alone: Reading Intensive + Math Intensive + Science + CLC And we try to raise funds for the outreach components separately - for the reading outreach, village library and Pre-primary. As these will be in different schools and villages (and a lower intensity program), the Asha SV schools and villages will be clearly kept separate. The evaluation for the Asha SV schools can also be done separately. $ 107,559 C Project is implemented as above without scaling down. Asha SV supports fully a few of the components above like Science, Village Library, CLC and Pre-primary (for example). And we will raise additional funds for the Reading and Math components. $ 88,440 D Asha SV supports the project in Sivagangai with the following scaling down of the project components: Reading + School Lib = 200 schools Outreach Reading + Math program = 919 schools Math Intensive program = 120 school Science = 360 schools (existing - with lesser materials than proposed above) Village Library = 300 library (existing but with lesser materials than proposed above) $ 92,523 E Asha SV supports only the Science program in all schools in the district with a greater intensity than done in the last year (more materials and people). $ 39,400 F Asha SV supports only the Library and CLC components - the community components. $ 33,628 G Asha SV supports only the Science Program - but at the same level of intensity as done last year. 1 person per block and lesser number of kits/school (costing Rs. 800 per school/year) $ 25,182 Other Options 2008-09

32. Q & A