Ever since we joined as Assistant Secretaries in the Department of School Education and Literacy, HRD Ministry, we had been showered with impelling tales and snippets about novel Education reforms underway in the state of Rajasthan. And recently we were fortunate to get this opportunity to travel to Jaipur and to see for ourselves, what these reforms actually were and what impact they were making on the ground. And as I sat pondering before embarking upon the return journey, I was more than sure that whatever had been said till now, was simply not ample. There was so much more to it that other states must know so that they create their own models to rekindle their education setups.
On our way to the Govt. Sr. Sec. School Nimodiya, Tonk Road, I was reminded of my travels during the district training in Sonitpur, Assam. Multitude of small Primary Schools mushroomed across the landscape of the Bramhaputra Valley with petty enrollments. There were even some single-teacher schools devoid of optimal functioning. But given the limitations of the central pool of resources, more outlets meant less for everybody. Few years ago even Rajasthan was grappling with similar issues where they had several such schools with single digit enrollment. And then came the idea of restructuring of schools eventually paving the way for a harmonious integration process.
Imagine Scenario A where you have several Primary Schools in the vicinity with 02 teachers only and abysmally low enrollment. Apart from that you have a Secondary school with 4-6 teachers. The Primary Schools are structured in such a way that there would be no Head master/Principle to monitor and mentor the teachers. The monitoring is done by the Block level officer who sits far across and has too much on his plate to effectively deal with all these schools. The teachers of these Primary Schools have no one to look up too. Since the school base is low, so would be the resources at hand. The parents also would be constantly haunted by the apprehensions over migration to a Secondary school later as the kids progress in isolation.
Now Imagine Scenario B, where all such smaller Primary Schools in a Panchayat which are located nearby are merged together along with the one Secondary/ Sr Secondary school. Now you have the Head master/Principal of the Secondary School looking after all the teachers including those who were part of the stand alone Primary Schools. Now you have the common set of resources to be shared and utilized optimally by all these schools. Now you have junior and senior teachers interacting and facilitation of cross-learning happening across peer groups. Now you have the convergence of SSA and RMSA funds enabling them to innovate beyond. Moreover, it streamlines the migration of students from primary to secondary so that we minimize the dropouts. In a larger setup, the students also gain confidence to communicate better as it gives them the opportunity to interact with the senior classes. Restructuring process in Rajasthan is about moving from Scenario A to Scenario B. These integrated schools are envisioned in every Panchayat and they are being tagged as Adarsh Schools.
Along with the branding of these integrated schools, an array of other initiatives had also been undertaken. Now the Head Masters/Principals of these schools had suddenly the task of handling an enhanced number of students and teachers across platforms. For that, they were empowered with high level leadership modules conducted at the state level to ensure they have the necessary tools to administer this new role effectively. But there was a more fundamental predicament to effective monitoring that had been the major irritant in the past as well. The control of all these schools from the block office was a lost battle already. The sheer gigantic volume and the geographical spread made it almost a non performer.. Here came an important structural change which would decentralize monitoring to the Panchayat level. These Head Masters/Principals were also made the PEEO (Panchayat Elementary Education Officer). Now since they only had 4-5 other schools to look after and the fact that they were all close distance, monitoring process was revolutionized. The principals also felt empowered with these additional responsibilities which raised their morale to a new high.
In one of these Adarsh Schools, we sat listening to the Principal, Shri Om Prakash Vijay Ji, who so proudly and enthusiastically enlisted the several other smaller steps which have supplemented this reform story. He insisted that we take a detailed look at this online portal "Shala Darpan" made by the state itself to facilitate data inputs for decision making. He swiftly takes out a Portable Wifi Device from his pocket, connects it to the desktop in his office and logs in into that portal. As he explained to us how he uses all these information tools, I was overwhelmed by the penetration of technology even in these rural interiors and how it is empowering people like him to be more effective in their pursuits. Shala Darpan portal has been slowly developed step by step and it is interesting to note that no formal training sessions were imparted. The principals and teachers have learnt it on their own as it is such an useful and user-friendly interface.
On one wall of his room, there was this large poster with photographs, educational qualifications and other details of all the teachers and staff in the school. This brings transparency and helps the parents to know who are the teachers nurturing their children. There were several other small posters on the other walls regarding the Parent-Teacher meetings where in you see large scale publicity of these meetings. Rajasthan has innovated this new model for these meetings wherein they make it a state level festival by scheduling these meets on the same day across the entire state. And therefore, riding on the colossal fervor of its grandeur, almost all parents attend these meetings. A great solution to ensure participation.
Outside his room, there was this box labelled Akshay Petika mounted on a little table securely locked over it's two tinny latches. It is meant to facilitate local level donations for the schools wherein the parents, visitors and simply anyone can go and put in any tiny amount for the development of the school. The locks are opened in the supervision of the School Management Committee (SMC) and thereafter they also decide how best they could utilize these funds for the betterment of the schools. There are several other Principals from across the state who are putting in special efforts to take their schools forward. They are creating alumni databases and are contacting them with the issues faced by their Alma mater. Recently one such school got a donation of 5 lacs INR from one such alumnus.
Another wonderful reform is the conceptualization of SIQE (State Initiative for Quality Education) which is a state level modification over the several existing systems of evaluation and continuous learning prescribed at the national level. The fundamental idea behind is that a single framework of teaching does not fit all. All the students are different in terms of their capabilities and their strengths lie in varying domains as well. Ergo in this setup, an initial benchmarking of students is done and they are divided into several grades such as A, B, C and D etc. This classification is kept confidential as far as the students are concerned but of course the parents are made privy to it. The students from the lower grades are given extra support so that they can come onboard with the others. The number of students idling in the last grade is linked to the performance assessment of the teacher which in turn incentivizes him to do the needful.
On the note of integration of schools, one additional facet that needs to be highlighted is the inclusion of Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) in these schools. Often we come across isolated AWCs where the basic amenities are missing. Sometimes even the physical structures are absent and they are run in the houses of the caretakers.There was no way to ensure that they were functioning as per prescribed norms. Under this intervention, those AWCs which did not have the infrastructure and were within a certain distance from these schools, where hence given space inside the school campus itself. This is doing wonderfully well for several obvious reasons. The caretakers are feeling motivated to be part of a larger setup where they are getting all kind of support and guidance from the teachers and principals. The kids are motivated as their elder brothers and sisters are also around. Moreover, the facilities of the schools can also be shared with the AWC. The admission into the Primary school would become streamlined as the prospective kids are already in the loop. This structural innovation is also being replicated across India by taking inspiration from Rajasthan.
Apart from the regular schools, we have these Swami Vivekanand Model schools conceptualized for every block having the highest standards of teaching, infrastructure and opportunities. These are fully funded by the state itself in terms of the recurring expenditure and given the commendable performance in recent years, there has been a reverse migration of sorts from private schools. In one of the classes, when we asked them how many came from private schools, almost all of them raised their hands. They showcase the kind of magical results you can realize when you provide the best of facilities to these talented young guns of the rural localities. With shades of the JNV model, these schools come as boon to the low-icome group parents aspiring quality education. Similar role is being played by the KGBVs and the Sharda Girls Hostel scheme ensuring that the girls do not drop out because of household chores.
Towards the conclusion of our enlightening voyage, we also got the opportunity to interact and listen to Naresh Gangwar Sir (Education Secretary, Govt. of Rajasthan) who is the man behind this revolution in school education Rajasthan is witnessing. To read more about his education initiatives, CLICK HERE. At the very outset, he shared this brilliant anecdote which perhaps relates not only to education but to everything in the government or otherwise. Every problem can be reduced to the Highway-Car-Driver analogy. We have a bad road in front of us, a worn-out vehicle and an unskilled driver. And most of the time, we try to solve the issue by replacing the car as that's the most convenient thing to do. But the road is still damaged and the driver hasn't gotten any better. We need to upgrade the highway and we need to skill the driver. Of course it would take many fold the effort that would go to replace the car but there is no other way. So let's get our acts together and let's mend our Highway.
Inspired by the positive winds of change Education is witnessing in Rajasthan, I quote John F. Kennedy...
“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.”
For reading more on IAS Diaries, CLICK HERE.
On our way to the Govt. Sr. Sec. School Nimodiya, Tonk Road, I was reminded of my travels during the district training in Sonitpur, Assam. Multitude of small Primary Schools mushroomed across the landscape of the Bramhaputra Valley with petty enrollments. There were even some single-teacher schools devoid of optimal functioning. But given the limitations of the central pool of resources, more outlets meant less for everybody. Few years ago even Rajasthan was grappling with similar issues where they had several such schools with single digit enrollment. And then came the idea of restructuring of schools eventually paving the way for a harmonious integration process.
Imagine Scenario A where you have several Primary Schools in the vicinity with 02 teachers only and abysmally low enrollment. Apart from that you have a Secondary school with 4-6 teachers. The Primary Schools are structured in such a way that there would be no Head master/Principle to monitor and mentor the teachers. The monitoring is done by the Block level officer who sits far across and has too much on his plate to effectively deal with all these schools. The teachers of these Primary Schools have no one to look up too. Since the school base is low, so would be the resources at hand. The parents also would be constantly haunted by the apprehensions over migration to a Secondary school later as the kids progress in isolation.
Now Imagine Scenario B, where all such smaller Primary Schools in a Panchayat which are located nearby are merged together along with the one Secondary/ Sr Secondary school. Now you have the Head master/Principal of the Secondary School looking after all the teachers including those who were part of the stand alone Primary Schools. Now you have the common set of resources to be shared and utilized optimally by all these schools. Now you have junior and senior teachers interacting and facilitation of cross-learning happening across peer groups. Now you have the convergence of SSA and RMSA funds enabling them to innovate beyond. Moreover, it streamlines the migration of students from primary to secondary so that we minimize the dropouts. In a larger setup, the students also gain confidence to communicate better as it gives them the opportunity to interact with the senior classes. Restructuring process in Rajasthan is about moving from Scenario A to Scenario B. These integrated schools are envisioned in every Panchayat and they are being tagged as Adarsh Schools.
Along with the branding of these integrated schools, an array of other initiatives had also been undertaken. Now the Head Masters/Principals of these schools had suddenly the task of handling an enhanced number of students and teachers across platforms. For that, they were empowered with high level leadership modules conducted at the state level to ensure they have the necessary tools to administer this new role effectively. But there was a more fundamental predicament to effective monitoring that had been the major irritant in the past as well. The control of all these schools from the block office was a lost battle already. The sheer gigantic volume and the geographical spread made it almost a non performer.. Here came an important structural change which would decentralize monitoring to the Panchayat level. These Head Masters/Principals were also made the PEEO (Panchayat Elementary Education Officer). Now since they only had 4-5 other schools to look after and the fact that they were all close distance, monitoring process was revolutionized. The principals also felt empowered with these additional responsibilities which raised their morale to a new high.
In one of these Adarsh Schools, we sat listening to the Principal, Shri Om Prakash Vijay Ji, who so proudly and enthusiastically enlisted the several other smaller steps which have supplemented this reform story. He insisted that we take a detailed look at this online portal "Shala Darpan" made by the state itself to facilitate data inputs for decision making. He swiftly takes out a Portable Wifi Device from his pocket, connects it to the desktop in his office and logs in into that portal. As he explained to us how he uses all these information tools, I was overwhelmed by the penetration of technology even in these rural interiors and how it is empowering people like him to be more effective in their pursuits. Shala Darpan portal has been slowly developed step by step and it is interesting to note that no formal training sessions were imparted. The principals and teachers have learnt it on their own as it is such an useful and user-friendly interface.
On one wall of his room, there was this large poster with photographs, educational qualifications and other details of all the teachers and staff in the school. This brings transparency and helps the parents to know who are the teachers nurturing their children. There were several other small posters on the other walls regarding the Parent-Teacher meetings where in you see large scale publicity of these meetings. Rajasthan has innovated this new model for these meetings wherein they make it a state level festival by scheduling these meets on the same day across the entire state. And therefore, riding on the colossal fervor of its grandeur, almost all parents attend these meetings. A great solution to ensure participation.
Outside his room, there was this box labelled Akshay Petika mounted on a little table securely locked over it's two tinny latches. It is meant to facilitate local level donations for the schools wherein the parents, visitors and simply anyone can go and put in any tiny amount for the development of the school. The locks are opened in the supervision of the School Management Committee (SMC) and thereafter they also decide how best they could utilize these funds for the betterment of the schools. There are several other Principals from across the state who are putting in special efforts to take their schools forward. They are creating alumni databases and are contacting them with the issues faced by their Alma mater. Recently one such school got a donation of 5 lacs INR from one such alumnus.
Another wonderful reform is the conceptualization of SIQE (State Initiative for Quality Education) which is a state level modification over the several existing systems of evaluation and continuous learning prescribed at the national level. The fundamental idea behind is that a single framework of teaching does not fit all. All the students are different in terms of their capabilities and their strengths lie in varying domains as well. Ergo in this setup, an initial benchmarking of students is done and they are divided into several grades such as A, B, C and D etc. This classification is kept confidential as far as the students are concerned but of course the parents are made privy to it. The students from the lower grades are given extra support so that they can come onboard with the others. The number of students idling in the last grade is linked to the performance assessment of the teacher which in turn incentivizes him to do the needful.
On the note of integration of schools, one additional facet that needs to be highlighted is the inclusion of Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) in these schools. Often we come across isolated AWCs where the basic amenities are missing. Sometimes even the physical structures are absent and they are run in the houses of the caretakers.There was no way to ensure that they were functioning as per prescribed norms. Under this intervention, those AWCs which did not have the infrastructure and were within a certain distance from these schools, where hence given space inside the school campus itself. This is doing wonderfully well for several obvious reasons. The caretakers are feeling motivated to be part of a larger setup where they are getting all kind of support and guidance from the teachers and principals. The kids are motivated as their elder brothers and sisters are also around. Moreover, the facilities of the schools can also be shared with the AWC. The admission into the Primary school would become streamlined as the prospective kids are already in the loop. This structural innovation is also being replicated across India by taking inspiration from Rajasthan.
Apart from the regular schools, we have these Swami Vivekanand Model schools conceptualized for every block having the highest standards of teaching, infrastructure and opportunities. These are fully funded by the state itself in terms of the recurring expenditure and given the commendable performance in recent years, there has been a reverse migration of sorts from private schools. In one of the classes, when we asked them how many came from private schools, almost all of them raised their hands. They showcase the kind of magical results you can realize when you provide the best of facilities to these talented young guns of the rural localities. With shades of the JNV model, these schools come as boon to the low-icome group parents aspiring quality education. Similar role is being played by the KGBVs and the Sharda Girls Hostel scheme ensuring that the girls do not drop out because of household chores.
Towards the conclusion of our enlightening voyage, we also got the opportunity to interact and listen to Naresh Gangwar Sir (Education Secretary, Govt. of Rajasthan) who is the man behind this revolution in school education Rajasthan is witnessing. To read more about his education initiatives, CLICK HERE. At the very outset, he shared this brilliant anecdote which perhaps relates not only to education but to everything in the government or otherwise. Every problem can be reduced to the Highway-Car-Driver analogy. We have a bad road in front of us, a worn-out vehicle and an unskilled driver. And most of the time, we try to solve the issue by replacing the car as that's the most convenient thing to do. But the road is still damaged and the driver hasn't gotten any better. We need to upgrade the highway and we need to skill the driver. Of course it would take many fold the effort that would go to replace the car but there is no other way. So let's get our acts together and let's mend our Highway.
Inspired by the positive winds of change Education is witnessing in Rajasthan, I quote John F. Kennedy...
“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.”
For reading more on IAS Diaries, CLICK HERE.
3 comments:
An inspiring story and well written too
Excellent write up and inspiring state initiative
Thanks for sharing dear swapnil. Excellent write up.
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