FUTURE SAFE: Teachers of GPS Azampura II School, Chaderghat are making the pupils adopt new learning methods.

Hyderabad: Little Afreen of Government Girls Primary School, Chanchalguda, doesn't want to bunk school anymore. Why? She likes the alphabet cards, number cards and the attractive story charts in her class. The `Pic Talk" device is another thing that appeals her. Place the pen on the word and you can listen to that word. Same is the case with Ramesh of Government Primary School, Azampura II.

There is a renewed interest among kids to attend schools these days. No, the dull and dreary look of the Government schools in the city has not changed. What has changed is the way lessons are taught. Introduction of graded reading material in Urdu and Telugu and activity-based teaching is bringing a ray of hope in Government schools.

The partnership between District Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Pratham, a network of NGOs working for promotion of primary education, is paying off.

There is a newfound interest both among the teachers and the taught in the 165 schools in the five Mandals of Saidabad, Himayatnagar, Charminar, Nampally and Amberpet where the accelerated reading programme is being implemented.

Absenteeism rate has come down. What is more parents have started taking interest in their child's learning.

This was clear when presspersons visited some of the schools on Tuesday alongwith Hyderabad Collector R.V. Chandravadan, and Additonal Project Coordinator, SSA, Ghulam Hussain. Students of classes I and II could easily identify the alphabets and even read small sentences. "The illustrated story books and word cards have made lot of difference", said Tasneem Siddiqa, a teacher at the Government Primary School, Azampura II.

Besides providing innovative reading material, Pratham has also set up libraries in each of the 165 schools where it is working since August last. It has also taken up mother's contact programme.

"The result is mothers are now taking interest in their children's learning", says Sunita Burra, State Programme Head, Pratham. The appointment of community volunteers for each school has helped in motivating the parents and increased attendance in schools.

A mid tern evaluation of the programme showed improvement in reading and comprehension levels of the students.

"A third party evaluation would be carried out to further assess the efficacy of the programme," the Collector said and added that the programme would be extended to other Government schools too.

165 schools in the five Mandals of Saidabad, Himayatnagar, Charminar, Nampally and Amberpet

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