[Research] posters

Sun Aug 22 09:19:01 IST 2021

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> 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> <jaandaraz at riseup.net>
> *Sent:* Saturday, August 21, 2021 8:09 PM
> *To:* Niranjanaradhya.V.P Aradhya <aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>
> <aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>; Guru <Guru at ITforChange.net>
> <Guru at ITforChange.net>
> *Cc:* Sajitha Bashir <sajitha.bashir at gmail.com> <sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>;
> mehendalearchana at gmail.com; research at educationemergency.net; Rishikesh
> <rishikesh at apu.edu.in> <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 24th 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> <jaandaraz at riseup.net>
> *Sent:* 21 August 2021 1:20 AM
> *To:* Guru <Guru at ITforChange.net> <Guru at ITforChange.net>
> *Cc:* niranjan aradhya <aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>
> <aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>; Sajitha Bashir <sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>
> <sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>; mehendalearchana at gmail.com
> <mehendalearchana at gmail.com> <mehendalearchana at gmail.com>;
> research at educationemergency.net <research at educationemergency.net>
> <research at educationemergency.net>; Rishikesh <rishikesh at apu.edu.in>
> <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"
> <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://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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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