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Activity-based learning at government schools in August

PUDUCHERRY: The Education Department is all set to introduce activity-based learning (ABL), an initiative under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), in more than 150 government Tamil medium schools in Puducherry and Karaikal regions by August.

Aimed at creating a child-friendly teaching and learning environment, the SSA programme will implement ABL methodology in government Tamil medium schools, including 70 schools in Karaikal.

This will include primary sections in government middle, high and higher secondary schools.

“The ABL cards are being printed now and we are also procuring self-learning material kits for mathematics. Almost all teachers of primary classes in Tamil medium schools have been trained in ABL,” State project director of SSA R. Parthasarathy said.

Covering students from Standard I to V, the methodology enabled students to learn through activity. Based on the activities, the students would be arranged in groups and would learn in three ways – teacher-assisted learning, learning among peer group and self-learning, he said.

The SSA was planning to introduce the methodology in government English medium schools.

“The pre-requisite for implementing ABL in English medium schools is to convert the cards into English according to the syllabus of National Council of Educational Research and Training. A team of teachers has been constituted to work along with consultants from Rishi Valley and Tamil Nadu to convert the cards into English. We will conduct a workshop in the last week of July,” Mr. Parthasarathy said.

There were more than 85 government English medium schools in Puducherry and Karaikal.

Apart from developing competency-based learning and reducing the book load, the methodology would enable a closer relationship between teachers and students. The whole curriculum had been divided competency-wise and each student would be allowed to move to the next level on mastering the first competency.

“The students can learn according to their pace of learning. There will be continuous evaluation at each level,” he said.

In fact, the ABL required a different classroom set-up which included low-level black boards, rack for keeping the cards and a separate place for exhibiting the creative works of students, he said, adding that all schools had been instructed to come up with the necessary infrastructure.

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