Three teachers from Bamford Academy, UK, visited Canara Higher Primary School recently.
The two schools are part of a global school partnership formed in 2010 and sponsored by the British Council.
Principal of the UK school, Cherrie Rivero, teachers Nicola Rennie and Gemma Whalen from Bamford Academy Rochdale, were in Mangalore recently to get first-hand experience of differences in system and practices in education in India and the U.K.
Projects
For the past two years, the two schools have been working on joint projects, sharing five projects annually. This year, they have completed three projects and the fourth one is under process.
The schools are currently working on various interconnected projects, planning the projects collaboratively. They decided to work on “You, Me and us”.
Within this theme, they are working on the topics: “What do you think represents your country best”, “organic food”, “use of non bio-degradable things in our lives”, “measures to reduce wants and needs” and “housing”.
Under these projects, the children from Canara Higher Primary School write to their counterparts in Bamford about their point of view and what they imagine their partner may feel about the issue. The children from Bamford reply. To date, children have exchanged picture representations, Powerpoint presentations, drawings, letters and art work related to the topics.
Rakshith, Std. VI, said that they sent pictures of Qutub Minar, India Gate and Taj Mahal, with information about the monuments, to the Bamford students.
Aishwarya, Std. IV, said, “I got a letter…I don't remember his name. But I was happy to get a friend in another country. He told me about his family and then I wrote.” She said her new friend asked her how old she was and when was her birthday.
Renita, Std. V, said she was writing to her Bamford friends about the advantages of organic food and the disadvantages of inorganic food.
Lalana J Shenoy, headmistress of Canara Primary School, said, “The global school partnership has given an exposure to teachers as well as students to know more about different teaching learning systems and cultures.
