Gyan Prakash Foundation has adopted a systemic perspective to understand the problems plaguing the rural government education system across India. It has identified two core areas which can lead to a transformation of the system.
- Strengthening Cluster Based Teacher Professional Learning Communities
- Community Ownership of Public Education
Strengthening Cluster Based Teacher Professional Learning Communities
Shikshan Parishads were institutionalized at the State level in August 2016 by SCERT. In Gyan Prakash Foundation’s working area, 550 out of 606 clusters across the 4 districts are regularly conducting them on a monthly basis. Out of these, Shikshan Parishads in 152 clusters are taking up the concept of personalized learning plans and encouraging teachers within the cluster to prepare and implement them in their classrooms.
Data Driven Shikshan Parishads
Community Ownership of Public Education
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and School Management Committees (SMC’s) need to work together to deliberate and consolidate their vision for education. This enables coordination of information and resources to implement the collective vision of the community towards education of their children. Gyan Prakash Foundation works towards strengthening these structures to improve their functioning and communication across their different levels. The organisation’s work around governance in the four districts of Maharashtra, has been recognized by the SCERT. It published and disseminated training modules on SMC designed in collaboration with Gyan Prakash Foundation in 2013 and again in January 2022.
Gyan Prakash Foundation works with each stakeholder in the ecosystem to align with the competency based approach – parents, teachers in schools, School Management Committee, Cluster Level Functionaries such as the Kendra Pramukh and education institutions such as DIET. This is done to ensure sustainability of the change process by building ownership amongst the stakeholders.
Strengthening Parent Engagement in Learning
Gyan Prakash Foundation’s work in strengthening SMCs in the 4 districts has led to more than 50% schools ( 4408 schools) regularizing monthly SMC meetings. Of these, around 1200 schools carry out quarterly Parent Academic reviews, which includes a one- on-one individualized parent and teacher meeting where every child’s strength and progress is discussed. This gives parents an opportunity to engage in their child’s learning.
Parents as Early Teachers
Parents’ involvement in their child’s development during their early years can have a profound impact on the child’s learning, health and behaviour. The ‘Parents As Early Teachers’ program supports rural parents, especially mothers of preschool -aged children, to engage in the child’s learning by creating active experiences at home that build on the joy of learning and strengthen the parent-child bond.
The program is implemented through the technology platform – Gooru Learning Navigator, using developmental milestones that can help children transition smoothly into school. The focus is on language acquisition, pre-numeracy, number sense, gross motor development, writing readiness, self-care and independence and socio-emotional development. Video lessons linked to every milestone guide mothers on how to facilitate a concept to her child using material available at home.
Currently, the program is being implemented in one of the blocks in Satara (Maharahstra) through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) along with Gyan Prakash Foundation’s programs to create educational transformation in the district.