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— Photo: S.S. Kumar

Guiding teachers:Jane E. Schukoske ( right), executive director, USEFI, New Delhi, interacting with some of the teachers selected by ILEP at the pre-departure orientation programme in Chennai.

Eight secondary school teachers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, selected for the International Leadership in Education Programme (ILEP), will leave India on January 8, 2008, and spend six months (one semester) at a U.S. university undergoing intensive training in teaching methodologies, curriculum writing and teaching strategies for their home environment and educational leadership and will be familiarised with the use of computer and software that can aid them in teaching.

The programme for the teachers teaching English, social studies, mathematics and science, also includes an internship at a secondary school. The host universities for this programme are South East Missouri State University, Kent State University and Georgia Southern University. “The host universities were chosen in order to give exposure to the participants and to make them experience the heartland (rural places) of America. We also want to spread awareness and expose the natives of the heartland to the guests,” says Jane E. Schukoske, Executive Director, United States Education Foundation in India (USEFI), New Delhi.

The teachers selected for this programme are: Reena Alfred, Alpha Matriculation School, Chennai; Shaki Mani Choorapuzhayil, Lourdes Matha Higher Secondary School, Alappuzha, Kerala; Harikrishnan Dambe, Little Rock Indian School, Udupi, Karnataka; Parekaden Boby Rappai, Sacred Heart Convent, Trichur, Kerala; Anitha Nair, Trivandrum International School, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; Rakesh Ramachandran, SRKGVM Higher Secondary school, Thrissur, Kerala; Mathew Tom Kalappurayil, St. Xavier’s Vocational Higher Secondary School, Kottayam, Kerala, and Ajayakumar Aroliveetil, Panchayath Higher Secondary School, Kannur, Kerala.

“The teachers, upon their return, have to share their learning with their fraternity and peers,” says Sarina Paranjpe, Indian Programme Officer, USEFI, New Delhi.

ILEP brings together teachers from nine other countries also to this programme that will further develop their expertise in their subject area and enhance their teaching skills.

This particular programme was offered only for the teachers in South India. Announcement was made in the media and the final selection was made by the U.S. State Department from the 98 applications that were received.

According to Ms. Jane, “ILEP provides an opportunity for teachers to learn about higher secondary education and teaching methodology in American schools. They get to meet people from various backgrounds and observe student life, understand the culture and thus get a first-hand experience of America.”

“When it comes to the selection, we look for experienced teachers who possess leadership qualities, are open and eager for professional development, and who present themselves as good cultural ambassadors for India. English skill is essential.” ILEP is a U.S. Department of State-sponsored programme administered by the USEFI and International Research and Exchanges Board.

Talking about the advantages of this programme to the teachers, Ms. Jane says, “USEFI is delighted to offer such programmes to teachers in India. They are the people who reach out to India’s youth at a very impressionable age. The teachers who undergo this professional development programme, return with a sense of optimism and enthusiasm, which they can pass on to their students.”

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