The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Teaching-learning process in SSA schools to undergo sea change

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Teaching-learning process in SSA schools to undergo sea change

Ramya Kannan

Major transformation on cards in classroom Teaching-learning process will now be "100 per cent child-centric and activity-based."

CHENNAI: The Rs.730-crore Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) project in Tamil Nadu is finally on track with a renewed commitment to make learning enjoyable for children being matched by a determination to ensure quality.

A significant change to be effected is in the teaching-learning process in SSA schools throughout the State, project director M.P. Vijayakumar who recently took charge, said. "Though we have a mandate to make learning fun for children, at the field level, the emphasis is still on notes of lessons." The programme was lacking when it came to delivering quality.

His observation was borne out by achievement tests held recently to assess the performance of children in SSA schools. While in languages, they scored an average of 60 per cent, it was a mere 35 per cent in mathematics. "Quality is the real issue here. While over the years, the hardware [infrastructure, teachers] has been set in place, the classroom process and atmosphere is obviously not conducive for learning," he said.

The SSA is a programme that seeks to provide education for all up to the age of 14. It includes projects that specifically target enumeration, universal enrolment to eliminate dropout. It is aimed at reaching out to sections such as tribals, child labourers and the disabled.

On the cards, therefore, is a major transformation in the classroom. Teaching-learning process will now be "100 per cent child-centric and activity-based."

This allows the child to learn at his/her own pace and the emphasis on examination is removed.

Touch-and-feel activities improve motor skills in young children besides contributing to joyful learning.

It has also been noted that this process invests children with self-confidence and classroom interactions enable them to shed inhibitions.

Mr.Vijayakumar will bring with him the experience of launching the activity-based learning programme successfully implemented in Chennai Corporation schools.

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