Shikshaantra Plus - a Complete School Transformation programme reaching out to 28,000 students in 15 Government Schools in 6 states

Government schools are the pivotal components of our social structure. They are playing a vital role in addressing the educational needs of students in rural and urban areas of India. Despite being an integral part of our social fabric, government schools have been constantly battling to prove their significance, as their existence is now being challenged with mushrooming private institutions providing education. This is further heightened by inadequate infrastructure facilities resulting in unattractive environment and poor quality of student teachers engagement. Below are some of the specific challenges that have occurred due to the lack of focus on quality in school -

• The traditional classroom management allows students to sit passive in the classroom.

• Teachers usually assess all students on the same parameter ignoring the fact that every child is unique and has different ways of learning.

• In teacher training there is a huge gap between theory and practice.

• High cases of poor attendance and retention are observed as both students and parents don’t find education in Govt. schools lucrative.

As per the ASER 2016 report, the low learning outcomes of children is the reflection of overall poor classroom processes that are being currently practiced in schools with students.

In response to the pronounced need, KHUSHII worked towards improving the quality government school education and learning outcomes of children from low-income communities in India by offering complementary and support services through Shikshaantra Plus. In association with the state education departments, KHUSHII is providing Remedial & Support education to over 28,000 children across 15 government schools in 6 states. Some of the key activities conducted in the programme are-

1. Remedial and support Education through providing teachers and worksheets for children.

2. Capacity building of teachers on remedial education, creating low cost TLMs and assessments.

3. Strengthening parent engagement through linking them to school and regularizing PTMs.

4. Counselling services for students in areas of academic achievement, emotional, personal and social development.

5. Capacity enhancement of Head Teacher and School Management Committees on necessary management and leadership skills to stimulate learning environment in the school.

6. Providing Digital Learning tools, Library and STEM labs to encourage reading and discovery among students in augmenting teaching.

7. Awareness on Hygiene and General Health through dedicated workshops on health, sanitation, menstrual hygiene etc, and regular health camps.

8. Institutional Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of toilets and drinking water facilities.

Some of the key figures that programme has achieved so far are given below -

• 28,000 children provided Remedial Education from Grade 1 to 10

• 18,000 children provided with counselling on different behavioral and psychological issues

• 25,000 children are learning through digital learning, STEM and computer labs and libraries

• 50 support teachers catering to the students in Government school

• 200 SMC (School Management Committee) meeting with 3,000 parents participated

• 60% Improvement in attendance and 40% improvement in enrollment

• 125 government school teachers impacted through demonstration of good practices in Teaching Learning

• 2,000 parents participated in PTMs organized in schools

Overall the impact generated is the reflection of the process driven approach adopted by KHUSHII -

1. Fostered partnership with education departments of 6 states. Activation of local district level stakeholders such as DEOs, BEOs and district counselors to the intervention schools. Integrated all stakeholders including communities, parents etc.

2. Improved Health, Hygiene (including menstrual hygiene) WASH practices due to focused sessions

3. Clean drinking water facility made available in schools

4. With the support of Govt. administration, pre-assessment of learning levels of all 28,000 children was conducted and accordingly remedial needs are planned.

5. 5-7% increase in learning levels