[Core] Fwd: [Research] posters

Guru Guru at ITforChange.net
Tue Sep 28 21:40:37 IST 2021


for info
for ref for making the doc for the commissioner Karnataka

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	Re: [Research] posters
Date: 	Sun, 22 Aug 2021 10:26:54 +0530
From: 	Rishikesh <rishikesh at apu.edu.in>
To: 	'Jean Dreze' <jaandaraz at riseup.net>
CC: 	research at educationemergency.net, 'Niranjanaradhya.V.P Aradhya'
<aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>



Sajitha & Jyotsna have already provided very useful inputs. So, I’m not
sure how useful this attachment is Jean. It contains examples on how the
current and next year can be designed and the kind of curricular changes
(broad and the next level illustratively for Math).

 

I’m attaching the word version so that you can use any section of the
note to incorporate into your submission to the Secy, GoJ. Please feel
free to use the note I’ve shared in whatever way you feel fit as it does
not require any referencing.

 

Warm regards,

rishi

 

*From:* Research <research-bounces at educationemergency.net> *On Behalf Of
*Jyotsna Jha
*Sent:* Sunday, August 22, 2021 10:06 AM
*To:* Sajitha Bashir <sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>
*Cc:* research at educationemergency.net; Niranjanaradhya.V.P Aradhya
<aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>
*Subject:* Re: [Research] posters

 

Hi Jean, 

I can see that we all have different and at times also contrary
suggestions. 

Yet, can help suggesting a few - I am sure you would discern and decide:
I think you should ask for some quick decisions that are also easier to
implement followed by some modified approaches for being more supportive
to children. I have five suggestions:

 

1. I am a votary for a Zero Year or a Bonus Year for all primary kids,
especially in states like Jharkhand and Bihar. In the lifetime, one year
is nothing but if pushed to higher grades without knowing nothing, it
would lead to much higher dropouts. 

2. A curriculum-approach replanning with support of local (there are
some in Ranchi who understand these well) and some external people,
focusing on key and supportive concepts - I know that MP is making some
such initiative. Different from bridging in the sense that it also takes
note of already prevailing learning gaps and also structural aspects. 

3. Training teachers on this new approach and also extensively on equity
and learning issues making them able to have a differential approach and
not treating all children the same. It may also mean individual testing
(as Sajitha is suggesting) to know about each one of them - but much
better to equip teachers to do that rather than organising large scale
ones. It must include orienting them on socio-emotional support and the
importance of maintaining links with children/parents during such breaks.

4. Preparing teachers/schools/system for future sudden such occurrences
(third wave?). For instance, many schools don't have all children's
addresses with landmarks, phone numbers (family or neighbour), closest
literate person's phone number/address. We found that to be a major
constraint that teachers faced when it came to getting in touch with
students and families. Record collection may have happened but the
school does not have these in many cases. 

5. Textbooks (plus additional learning materials) and Meals to be
non-negotiable - the system must assess the current practices and assure
the availability of these two. 

 

Regards,

Jyotsna

 

On Sun, Aug 22, 2021 at 9:20 AM Sajitha Bashir <sajitha.bashir at gmail.com
<mailto:sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>> wrote:

    Studies from the US show that it takes several years for students
    who are below grade level to "catch up" to grade level ; one study I
    saw indicates that only 4 % catch up in two years !  (This is
    pre-pandemic).  In general, younger children, and students who are
    not independent learners take longer.   So this cannot be a one-time
    effort, it could take a few years.  In other words, think of what
    you have to do consistently for several years (which may , if done
    well, actually introduce some much needed changes in the education
    system).  That is the first point that I would make.  

    The education support group of the coalition is preparing draft
    guidelines/ principles . At this stage, a few other points that
    could be put forward

     

    - children need to be assessed individually (not just on academic
    subjects); sample based assessments and tests give us an idea of the
    scale of the problem, but do not indicate what needs to be done in
    each school. These have to be administered by teachers, but there
    must be some quality checks and protocols, and consistent analysis
    of data, to help develop school plans.   [ Also, children would also
    have learnt new skills and resilience during this time, and it is
    important to build on this]

    - extend the time for learning (eg weekends, holidays etc).  This
    obviously has to be negotiated with teachers or other organizations
    have to be brought in.

    - mixed age groups / classes in smaller groups - eg you can teach
    literacy skills to some students in classes 1-3 together, if some
    grade 2-3 students have lost literacy skills.  This becomes more
    difficult at higher levels, but solutions can be found.

    - focus on core subjects initially - language, mathematics; and
    socio-emotional

    - tailored training for teachers to understand and take up new
    methods, and regular support provided to them

    - additional instructional materials for the above  (ie the
    textbooks usually cannot be used; but additional instructional
    materials are not difficult to develop and need not take time)

    - a clear instructional plan developed by each school ( schools will
    need support for this)

    - detailed district or block level planning and monitoring to
    support each school; 

    - meaningful and sensitive communication with parents on a regular
    basis.

    - more public funding to support all of above; one can't tackle the
    crisis meaningfully with the existing level of resources

     

     

     

     

     

    On Sat, Aug 21, 2021 at 9:56 PM Jean Dreze <jaandaraz at riseup.net
    <mailto:jaandaraz at riseup.net>> wrote:

        We are meeting the Education Secretary in Jharkhand tomorrow. If
        you have any suggestions, or any ready-made material that might
        be useful to him, please let me know.

        Jean

        On 22-08-2021 07:12, Rishikesh wrote:

            That is right. The gap that has occurred over the 16+ months
            is so huge and as Jean says it is over the gap that already
            existed! If we are to do anything meaningful, we will need a
            lot of time with the children to even get them to where they
            were before the lockdown.

            I guess all will agree with it too. But the challenge is in
            coming up with the appropriate approach with a suitable
            curriculum, material, pedagogy, capacity building to use
            them & so on… we will have to start working with State
            Govt’s to actionize this.

             

            *From:* Jean Dreze <jaandaraz at riseup.net>
            <mailto:jaandaraz at riseup.net>
            *Sent:* Saturday, August 21, 2021 8:09 PM
            *To:* Niranjanaradhya.V.P Aradhya
            <aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>
            <mailto:aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>; Guru
            <Guru at ITforChange.net> <mailto:Guru at ITforChange.net>
            *Cc:* Sajitha Bashir <sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>
            <mailto:sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>;
            mehendalearchana at gmail.com
            <mailto:mehendalearchana at gmail.com>;
            research at educationemergency.net
            <mailto:research at educationemergency.net>; Rishikesh
            <rishikesh at apu.edu.in> <mailto:rishikesh at apu.edu.in>
            *Subject:* Re: [Research] posters

             

            It seems to me that the "bridge", however designed, will
            have to extend to March 2023, not 2022. Because the "gap",
            for children who've been left out all this time, is not just
            one-and-a-half years (since lockdown began); it's
            one-and-a-half years + what they forgot of what they had
            learnt + whatever gap was already there before the lockdown
            began. I don't see a 3-month bridge course filling that gap.

             

            Jean

             

            On 21-08-2021 19:51, Niranjanaradhya.V.P Aradhya wrote:

                Hi Jean and friends 

                 

                You have raised an important issue. Since March 24^th to
                till date nothing much happened to children who are in
                lower classes. Therefore, I propose the following.  

                The children who joined class 1 in 2020-21 can be
                combined with the children who are joining class 1 in
                2021-22 since there levels of learning are one and the
                same. These children will undergo accelerated learning
                programme to learn basic things appropriate to their age
                and grade in a combined manner to benefit both the age
                groups and grades in 2021-22 for 200 hundred learning
                days as indicated by RTE Act. During this period,
                teachers with special curriculum and methods help these
                children master the competencies otherwise they would
                have mastered in class 1 and two respectively. At the
                end of 2022 academic year , a special programme for
                children who got admitted to class 1 in 2020-21 ( though
                they have not attended school)  can be designed with
                special curriculum to prepare them for class 3, so that
                we can avoid loss of one year for no fault of them.   

                 

                In the meal for all other grades from 2 to 10, the first
                3 months should be devoted to well-structured bridge
                course with a specially designed curriculum to get
                familiar with age wise- grade wise competencies before
                we start curriculum transaction  

                 

                Otherwise, the loss is for marginalized children who are
                first- or second-generation learners. Therefore, while
                talking on behalf them and demanding any solution needs
                a fair understanding and all benefit should be given to
                children. The decision also should be in the best
                interest of the children.  

                 

                Niranjan  

                 

                 

                 

                 

                ------------------------------------------------------------------------

                *From:*Jean Dreze <jaandaraz at riseup.net>
                <mailto:jaandaraz at riseup.net>
                *Sent:* 21 August 2021 1:20 AM
                *To:* Guru <Guru at ITforChange.net>
                <mailto:Guru at ITforChange.net>
                *Cc:* niranjan aradhya <aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>
                <mailto:aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>; Sajitha Bashir
                <sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>
                <mailto:sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>;
                mehendalearchana at gmail.com
                <mailto:mehendalearchana at gmail.com>
                <mehendalearchana at gmail.com>
                <mailto:mehendalearchana at gmail.com>;
                research at educationemergency.net
                <mailto:research at educationemergency.net>
                <research at educationemergency.net>
                <mailto:research at educationemergency.net>; Rishikesh
                <rishikesh at apu.edu.in> <mailto:rishikesh at apu.edu.in>
                *Subject:* Re: [Research] posters

                 

                Dear Guru and friends,

                I am still tied up with the field survey, but doing my
                best to keep up in the between with all the useful
                material you are circulating.

                The survey findings are alarming (no surprise here). In
                Latehar district, in 5 SC/ST hamlets, we found that 75%
                of children were unable to read a single word.
                Meanwhile, the schools are falling apart.

                I wonder what the "line" is on automatic promotion. Once
                again it seems to suit privileged children, who are more
                or less on track, but it is the kiss of educational
                death for other children. How can children who were
                enrolled in Class 1 last year, and have never been to
                school or learnt the alphabet, be in Class 2 now (Class
                3 in a few months), where they are given English
                textbooks (in Jharkhand)? Is there not a case for a
                "bonus year" when all children are helped to recover
                instead of sorting the winners and losers yet again?
                Just curious - I am sure that you have discussed this.

                I am not clear whether "research at educationemergency.net"
                <mailto:research at educationemergency.net> is a kind of
                collective address so I am CC-ing a few at random!

                Best,

                Jean

                 

                On 10-08-2021 11:05, Guru wrote:

                    Thanks Jean

                    We are in the process of translating posters to as
                    many languages as possible as these can help in
                    sharp and quick communication. We will share these
                    with you as well.

                    regards
                    Guru


                    On 10/08/21 7:03 am, Jean Dreze wrote:

                        Dear Guru: Thanks for this and other mails. I am
                        up to my ears right now with the field survey
                        (until 22 August), but I will catch up as soon
                        as possible. We will definitely help with media
                        for one thing.

                        More asap,

                        Jean

                        On 06-08-2021 15:41, Guru wrote:

                            Dear Jean

                             

                            I am attaching the posters that  my colleague made in our Karnataka

                            'Open Schools' campaign

                             

                            The campaign included a street protest, media articles, few press

                            releases which were reported in local papers. It may have helped a bit -

                            the Karnataka Govt kept high schools open Jan-March 2021.

                            Through the State SMC Federation, Niranjan and others also organized

                            district level protest meetings on school opening. A PIL was also put up

                            in Karnataka High Court  on both opening schools and providing mid day

                            meals. The CJ was sympathetic but  did not give a firm directive to open

                            schools. (there is a general middle class fear psychosis)

                             

                            For this time, apart from posters, street protests, short videos

                            (children, parents, teachers) in multiple languages, social media

                            campaigns, apart from policy briefs, guidelines/toolkits for school

                            opening will be required. And the idea of the national coalition is to

                            share resources/ideas across groups working in different geographies.

                             

                            regards,

                            Guru

                             

                            https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2021/mar/19/midday-meals-as-crucial-as-classes-survey-2278502.html <https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2021/mar/19/midday-meals-as-crucial-as-classes-survey-2278502.html>

                            https://itforchange.net/press-release-open-all-schools-and-all-classes-local-hygiene-precautions <https://itforchange.net/press-release-open-all-schools-and-all-classes-local-hygiene-precautions>

                            https://itforchange.net/press-release-open-all-primary-schools-now-to-avoid-a-learning-crisis <https://itforchange.net/press-release-open-all-primary-schools-now-to-avoid-a-learning-crisis>

                             

                             

                     

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