[Research] Meeting with Jharkhand Education Secretary
Jean Dreze
jaandaraz at riseup.net
Mon Aug 23 08:07:10 IST 2021
That will be really useful. Here is the letter I have drafted for the
Education Secretary (not for circulation please, we will release the
final version to the media tomorrow). If need be, we will send a similar
letter to the CM and request an appointment.
Jean
On 22-08-2021 21:31, Mythili Ram wrote:
> We have received about a dozen cases of what's being tried in
> different sites, largely in South India for now. We will compile them
> by Thursday and share.
>
> Mythili
>
> On Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 5:29 PM Jean Dreze <jaandaraz at riseup.net
> <mailto:jaandaraz at riseup.net>> wrote:
>
> Thanks Guru. Would be good to hear more about points 1 and 2 from
> Mythili, Ranjani and Manisha. I will count myself lucky if we are
> able to persuade the Secy that schools need to reopen soon and
> that the Govt of Jharkhand may benefit from these inputs for the
> purpose of preparing a transition plan. Hopefully they are on the
> job, but I will be surprised if they have electrifying proposals.
>
> Jean
>
> On 22-08-2021 13:14, Guru wrote:
>> Dear Jean,
>>
>> I have compiled inputs from Rishikesh, Jyotnsa and Sajitha in
>> mail thread + Note on the Education Emergency in Hindi
>> <https://educationemergency.net/2021/08/resume-and-renew-education-for-26-crore-children-hi/>
>> + Press release advocating immediate opening of pre-primary and
>> primary schools from the National Coalition, in the attached PDF,
>> to make it easier to print/share.
>>
>> It may be useful to present the note as from the 'National
>> Coalition on the Education Emergency' whose members are working
>> to provide education support to schools, communities as well as
>> larger mobilization of parents, teachers, stakeholders. *So that
>> it is seen as a potential continuous support/engagement than a
>> one-off interaction. *The note in the beginning summarises this
>> potential support (also provided below)
>>
>> 1.
>>
>> The Working Group on ‘Education Support to Schools and
>> Communities’ is in the process of documenting models of
>> meaningful learning (of different groups/organizations) and
>> compiling these. Based on this, the group is preparing
>> ‘Guidelines for school opening’. We will provide the
>> documents from this process to the Jharkhand education
>> department. Contact Mythili Ramchand, Ranjani Ranganathan)
>>
>> 2.
>>
>> The Working Group on ‘Education Support to Schools and
>> Communities’ is in the process of organizing a meeting of
>> parents groups, teacher groups, NGOs, CBOs working in
>> *Jharkhand*. The Education department should have a
>> representative attend this virtual meeting to get a direct
>> hearing of views of different stakeholders from Jharkhand.
>> (Contact person - Manisha Priyam)
>>
>> 3.
>>
>> The Working Group on ‘Research’ is compiling research studies
>> conducted relating to Covid and education, and will release
>> the highlights soon. The suggestions made in this note, do
>> alignwith the findings of almost all the research studies.
>>
>> 4.
>>
>> The press release in the note argues for the immediate
>> opening of pre-primary and primary schools, (contrary to the
>> political preference to open class X-XII) as the maximum harm
>> from school closure affects this group. The note in Hindi
>> <https://educationemergency.net/2021/08/resume-and-renew-education-for-26-crore-children-hi/>
>> discusses the need to 'resume' and 'renew' school education.
>>
>> I am copying Manisha, Mythili, Ranjani and Venita for their
>> inputs/suggestions.
>>
>> regards,
>> Guru
>> Gurumurthy Kasinathan,शिक्षा आपातकाल पर राष्ट्रीय सहभागिता
>> <https://educationemergency.net/2021/08/resume-and-renew-education-for-26-crore-children-hi/>
>>
>> On 22/08/21 10:26 am, Rishikesh wrote:
>>>
>>> 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>
>>> <mailto: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>
>>> <mailto:sajitha.bashir at gmail.com>
>>> *Cc:* research at educationemergency.net
>>> <mailto:research at educationemergency.net>; Niranjanaradhya.V.P
>>> Aradhya <aradhyaniranjan at hotmail.com>
>>> <mailto: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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