The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A positive change in education

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A positive change in education

Staff Reporter

Activity Based Learning has improved student-teacher relationship

CHENNAI: The Activity Based Learning (ABL) Methodology being implemented by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) wing of the State School Education Department has brought about several positive changes in classroom teaching and learning, members of the Tamil Nadu Movement for Right to Education and Livelihood said here on Thursday.

The movement was started by teachers, parents and education activists a few years ago to collectively address issues pertaining to education. Addressing a press conference, State Organiser M.L. Das said that after ABL was introduced, students’ comprehension had improved significantly. “Moreover, the student-teacher relationship has improved phenomenally. There is more affection, camaraderie and therefore, effective learning now.” Countering criticism on the methodology, Mr. Das said it ensured that there was a systematic progress in children’s learning and children could go to the next step only after establishing their thorough knowledge of aspects covered in a particular step. “Some teachers’ association have voiced concerns about this. But in reality, teachers hail the system. They have only voiced certain concerns about the problems in implementation of the system. They have nothing against the system itself,” he said.

V. Sudaroli, teacher at the Panchayat Union Middle School, Villivakkam, said: “We are able to see how children with different learning abilities are benefiting out of the ABL. Children who could not read small words earlier are now able to read sentences in Tamil and English fluently. Even children with special needs are learning more easily because of the ABL,” she said.

Organisers thanked the government for implementing a valuable methodology that has brought in a significant change, and requested officials to address some concerns raised by teacher associations to enable smoother implementation.

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