RCF LEARNING LABS”- FROM RAJALAKSHMI CHILDREN FOUNDATION

According to a report only 13% of government schools (upper primary to higher secondary schools have functioning science/math/or tech labs. The infrastructure of as many as 6,840 government schools in Karnataka has scope for improvement. A recent analysis by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for the 2020-21 academic year on several parameters revealed that as many as 1,961 government schools have secured the D grade while 4,879 obtained the C grade. While lower primary schools (classes one to five) have been graded on eight parameters, upper primary schools (classes six to seven/eight) are graded on 10 parameters, and high schools (classes eight to 10) on 11 parameters. They include the school building, compound wall, toilet, drinking water, availability of electricity, playground, kitchen garden and library. Upper primary classes and high schools are also graded on the availability of IT facilities, and computer and science labs.

There is an obvious inequality among school children, where urban children in private schools have unlimited facilities for practical learning, and millions of children studying in government schools in India, have little or no access to science and math labs. Though the school education department has been emphasizing practicals, 35% of government schools still don't have a science laboratory. More than 50% of the schools have labs for namesake, with practically no functioning equipment. Sometimes equipment is available but there are no rooms for students to actually do practicals. Science and Maths remain subjects which students learn to pass the exams and not to apply in daily life. For e.g., a student knows the formula to measure the area of the Tabletop, but if asked to calculate how much paint or word is required for that table, he would not understand how to apply the learning. If 30% of the learning time is spent in learning labs, the student would end up learning better and out of interest. They would be well-equipped to apply concepts learned in class to new situations.

Our founding director studied in a government school and became a renowned Endocrinologist. Our Lead Director studied in a rural Government school and completed his PhD at IIT Powai. However, they were fortunate to have moved on to private schools for their secondary education. The belief of our organization is that learning must be fun, learning should not be for marks and learning must not be perceived as a burden. In our projects like SPPU, we have found that when children begin to like learning Maths and Science without being afraid or hesitant, true learning happens. They understand the application of these subjects and stop learning by rote. In the early years of the inception of RCF, programming was taught on a blackboard, Math problems were joyfully solved by using puzzles on the sand and on paper. Students who couldn’t complete small calculations started participating in Math and Science competitions and winning them. We are clear that learning must be fun, applied and practical. In this direction, we have set up Math, Science and Social Science Labs in Government Schools in Belgaum city and villages on the outskirts of the city. We aim to set up at least 25 labs in remote villages in Belgaum, Chikkodi and Dharwad education districts. We have toured the length and breadth of these districts, and 201 students from these districts are part of our Pratibha Poshak Project. Our observation is that there are hundreds of enthusiastic children with lofty dreams which soon vanish when learning becomes a burden, boring and just for marks. The real experience in the laboratory will help students to learn things in a better way and also help in remembering for a long time.

We visualize schools where the materials in the lab are meant to be used both by the students on their own and with their teacher to explore the world of mathematics, to discover, learn and develop an interest in mathematics. RCF aims to create labs which are activity centres to create interest among students or anybody who wants to explore and test some of their ideas and beliefs about mathematics and science.

Our immediate plans are to set up 1 Maths Lab with a supporting library and 1 Science Lab with a supporting library at the Government schools of Gudas and Bellad Bagewadi.

In RCF Learning Labs, students would get hands-on experience to understand the basic concepts of mathematics and the scope for new innovations. It would help in making clear and in understanding abstract concepts. It would enable the students to apply the learnings of mathematical facts and principles in actual life. It would provide scope for greater involvement of both the mind and the hand which facilitate cognition. 

According to a report titled “School Education in Karnataka, 2018-19” The Department

of Primary and Secondary Education has undertaken various initiatives to improve the quality of education in the state. 

The statistics brought out by this report indicate the reduction of knowledge, understanding and application of the Math and Science subject as the child moves on to higher class, especially from class 6 onwards. Some of the basic reasons for this are the lack of proper learning facilities where children not only get knowledge but understand and know how to apply what they have learnt – a direct indication of the lack of practical learning facilities (labs). Therefore, RCF aims to address this crucial issue by providing Maths and Science Labs. Our earlier experiences have shown us that children enjoy learning when they can apply what they have learnt. Check this link created by our student who studies in one of the schools supported by RCF. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1797YoM1PmOdz-zWLLRkiROKw70E13dIc/edit usp=share_link&ouid=100059759840355695041&rtpof=true&sd=true

RCF is confident that the KUA index can be brought up to at least 75% if the students are given access to Math and Science labs. 

The mathematics laboratory will be a place to enjoy mathematics through informal exploration. It will be a place where anyone can generate problems and struggle to get an answer, a space to explore and design new mathematical activities. So, the maths lab will not be used to assess students’ knowledge of mathematics. Our mathematics lab will take students’ knowledge beyond the curriculum. 

Through RCF Science Learning labs, we aim to give students a first-hand experience and offer better opportunities for learning. We believe that a laboratory is not a contest whose object is to get the “right answer”, but the purpose is to learn how to gain knowledge, how to observe and to learn the meaning of what happens.

Our aim is to set up at least 56 Math and Science Labs in remote villages of Belgaum Education District, Dharwad Education District and Chikkodi Education District which can be utilised by at least 10,000 students.

So do join hands with us to give our young children a chance to 

 a study/work space designed to optimize innovation. 

 A unique environment for creativity and information sharing and building new knowledge. 

 Apply concepts learned in class to new situations

 experiment and be creative thereby making them understand universal values

Because your willingness to donate could kindle the desire to learn in several children. Let your “joy of giving” moment become a lifelong “joy of learning” to many.