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Dear Jean and all,<br>
<br>
This issue - what does a class 'N' teacher teach when students come
on school reopening is a very crucial, complex one, with a wrong
decision having perhaps even a greater harm than the school closure
(which is of course not advocating for continued school closure, as
that will only aggravate this issue, and this crisis could have
perhaps been avoided or mitigated by keeping Anganwadis and Primary
schools open during most the pandemic period).<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
I agree with Jean on his definition of the 'gap' and that the
bridge has to be for a much much longer period. I had a chat with
Dhir a month ago and he said UP Govt has sort of accepted that
next 2 years need to be treated differently to allow for this
'bridging' - see attached mail from Dhir. If we can push this
thinking in more govts, specially ones that may be receptive (TN?
Kerala? Jharkhand?) it would be good. <br>
<br>
I am copying <b>Venita Kaul</b> on this thread - we were having a
discussion this morning, on this issue and she said she was
planning to write an article on opening pre-primary and primary
schools. This issue (what should a class 2 teacher do when
students come into 'class 2, when these children may have never
been to school earlier?') is related and I would request her
(with her work in ECCE) to share some thoughts on this, including
in this or another article. Also attaching responses from Sajitha
and Jyotsna on same thread, with their analyses.<br>
<br>
Also copying <b>Mythili and Ranjani</b> who are facilitating the
working group on 'education support to schools and communities'
for their ideas/ideation. <br>
<br>
Finally, Niranjan, the language of 'loss' and 'catching up' may
do the maximum damage of pushing out students (from marginalized
groups) whose learning cannot be 'bridged' in some arbitrary and
short time. While this is most applicable to the 5-8 year children
it is also relevant to the older children. Basically we are on
the cusp of large scale dropout and a wrong decision here will
exponentially increase that drop out. a situation not seen in our
history of education.<br>
<br>
regards,<br>
Guru<br>
<br>
<br>
On 21/08/21 8:09 pm, Jean Dreze wrote:<br>
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<p>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.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Jean<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 21-08-2021 19:51,
Niranjanaradhya.V.P Aradhya wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:PSAPR02MB47599669968CCF99D10D9178B6C29@PSAPR02MB4759.apcprd02.prod.outlook.com">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
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sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman"">Hi Jean and friends </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman"">You have raised an important issue. Since
March 24<sup>th</sup> to till date nothing much happened
to children who are in lower classes. Therefore, I propose
the following. <o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman"">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)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman"">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 <o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman"">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. <o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman"">Niranjan <o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in
10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,
sans-serif;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times
New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span> <br>
</p>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font style="font-size:11pt"
face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000"><b>From:</b>
Jean Dreze <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:jaandaraz@riseup.net"
moz-do-not-send="true"><jaandaraz@riseup.net></a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> 21 August 2021 1:20 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Guru <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:Guru@ITforChange.net"
moz-do-not-send="true"><Guru@ITforChange.net></a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> niranjan aradhya <a
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:aradhyaniranjan@hotmail.com"
moz-do-not-send="true"><aradhyaniranjan@hotmail.com></a>;
Sajitha Bashir <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:sajitha.bashir@gmail.com"
moz-do-not-send="true"><sajitha.bashir@gmail.com></a>;
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:mehendalearchana@gmail.com"
moz-do-not-send="true">mehendalearchana@gmail.com</a> <a
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:mehendalearchana@gmail.com"
moz-do-not-send="true"><mehendalearchana@gmail.com></a>;
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:research@educationemergency.net"
moz-do-not-send="true">research@educationemergency.net</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:research@educationemergency.net"
moz-do-not-send="true"><research@educationemergency.net></a>;
Rishikesh <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:rishikesh@apu.edu.in"
moz-do-not-send="true"><rishikesh@apu.edu.in></a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Research] posters</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Dear Guru and friends,</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.<br>
</p>
<p>I am not clear whether <a
class="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:research@educationemergency.net"
moz-do-not-send="true">
"research@educationemergency.net"</a> is a kind of
collective address so I am CC-ing a few at random!</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<p>Jean</p>
<br>
<div class="x_moz-cite-prefix">On 10-08-2021 11:05, Guru
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">Thanks Jean<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
regards<br>
Guru<br>
<br>
<br>
On 10/08/21 7:03 am, Jean Dreze wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<p>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.</p>
<p>More asap,</p>
<p>Jean<br>
</p>
<div class="x_moz-cite-prefix">On 06-08-2021 15:41, Guru
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre class="x_moz-quote-pre">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
<a class="x_moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2021/mar/19/midday-meals-as-crucial-as-classes-survey-2278502.html" moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2021/mar/19/midday-meals-as-crucial-as-classes-survey-2278502.html</a>
<a class="x_moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://itforchange.net/press-release-open-all-schools-and-all-classes-local-hygiene-precautions" moz-do-not-send="true">https://itforchange.net/press-release-open-all-schools-and-all-classes-local-hygiene-precautions</a>
<a class="x_moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://itforchange.net/press-release-open-all-primary-schools-now-to-avoid-a-learning-crisis" moz-do-not-send="true">https://itforchange.net/press-release-open-all-primary-schools-now-to-avoid-a-learning-crisis</a>
</pre>
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