With SSLC results showing a huge improvement in recent years, the Education Department has shifted its focus to classes 5, 6, and 7 that are a crucial link to high school. The Directorate of Public Instruction is set to launch a project, Sraddha, from the next academic year, to give a leg-up to underperforming children in government schools and help them reach their potential.
The remedial teaching project stems from the recognition that many students are not doing as well as they should in academics owing to lack of individual attention or socio-economic factors.
“Many children might be facing domestic issues, health problems, or financial difficulties. If we can spot them and ensure personal attention, they will fare well,” says Director of Public Instruction K.V. Mohan Kumar.
He says focus in a classroom tends to be on gifted students, while others are neglected. “Even if 50% of the children benefit from Sraddha, it will be a huge achievement.”
The project, for which ₹3 crore has been approved, will be piloted in classes 5, 6, and 7 in over 865 government upper primary schools in the State. Supplementary learning materials will also be provided.
The process
The first step will be identification of students who need special attention. The class teachers will finalise their list with the approval of parent-teacher association executive committees. House visits may also be conducted. Once the list is finalised, the headmaster or headmistress will prepare a standard-wise consolidated list.
Classes will be taken, most likely on Saturdays, not by schoolteachers but by a pool of resource persons. These will include qualified candidates in that neighbourhood who will be remunerated suitably, the DPI said. Teachers who have time to spare may also volunteer. There will also be a core resource group which will be trained in soft skills needed to interact with these students and establish a rapport with them.
Subcommittee
District-level monitoring panels are planned under the leadership of Deputy Directors of Education (DDEs) to visit schools. The DDEs will review the programme once a month. The students will be provided refreshments on the day of classes.
A subcommittee has been asked to prepare within a month a proposal for implementing the project, Mr. Mohankumar said. Guidelines will be drafted on the basis of the proposal.
