Virtual and Distance Learning for 2,40,000 students across Goa

While Private schools in Goa have transitioned seamlessly to virtual learning in the past month, Government and Government aided schools have struggled due to:

1. Students having limited/no access to internet and devices
2. Teachers and system level leaders do not know how to leverage technology to reach their students

Government and Government aided schools in Goa serve some of the most marginalised populations of students in the State, including children of migrant and agricultural workers. If this crisis in education is not addressed, they stand to lose months of schooling which will reinforce the cycle of increased drop outs, unemployment and poverty.

Adhyayan Foundation has been working with the Directorate of Education, Goa for the last 2 years to enable the entire system to monitor school quality using data and address the gaps in the system to improve teaching and learning across Government Schools. Since May 5th we have been supporting the State to transition 10,000 teachers as well as school and system leaders to virtual and distance learning. This is so that as restrictions around opening up of schools and physical distancing continue, each and every child in the most remote parts of the State has access to a meaningful education. Adhyayan is supporting in 2 ways:

1. Designing and delivering the training to master trainers focuses on virtual and distance learning
2. Building the capacity of the State's personnel to be able to train its teachers for this new reality and setting up an internal panel of experts for the same
3. Providing the State with access to data on the effectiveness of the training and needs of teachers
4. Supporting the State's personnel to set up a monitoring mechanism to ensure that these learnings are implemented once the school year starts and support is provided to schools in real time
5. Working with the State to set up the content required offline options for students who do not have access to internet, through Radio/TV/IVR
6. Supporting the State in finding ways to bridge the device gap for students

So far, 336 Master trainers, 336 Computer teachers and 5000 teachers across have been trained. The impact we hope to see is:

1. Prior to reopening of schools in mid- june, 10,000 teachers across the State are trained to support 2,40,000 students through distance and virtual learning.
2. The state has a strong mechanism of monitoring implementation across schools through the academic year and enabling schools to work together to support each other. Refresher and support training will be conducted throughout the year.
3. Offline options are set up for students who do not have access to internet and interactive content is continuously curated.