Quality Education for All: Education transformation incorporating Learning, Training and Mentoring by Delhi Government

You might have seen pictures of Delhi schools with swimming pools, smart class and gyms surfacing over social media. The educational revolution which has gained momentum after a continuous hard work of 3 years cannot be completely understood by looking at photos of newly constructed school buildings, partial media coverage or press conferences. Even I was not aware about all the micro details and changes around various projects until I read the detailed 2018 "Quality Education for All" report launched by Delhi Government. The report which was released in the third week of Jan 2018 is 94 pages long and took sometime for me to read it completely. The document contains micro details of projects with their objective, methodology and results. Complete report is available to read and download at the end of this blog. In case you don't have time to read the entire report, I'm writing this blog mentioning key-points of the report. Transformation of Delhi education system is achieved by focusing on different aspects as listed below.

1. Learning

1.1 Chunauti 2018

Launched in Jun 2016
Impacting 9.5 lac students from grades 6 to 9
Aimed to bridge the learning gaps of grade 6-8 and ensuring zero dropouts in grade 9
Students divided on the basis of their learning levels and provided with additional learning support

1.2 Reading Campaign

Launched on Teacher's day and concluded on Children's day of 2016
Focused on children of Std 6 to 8 of the Directorate of Education, Delhi
Target group determined on the basis of reading level of students as determined through baseline
Basic learning material for the campaign was developed by Pratham. It consisted of short stories, paragraphs and word cards
Onsite support to school teachers was provided through regular visits by Mentor Teachers
Among the targeted group, about 1 lac students learnt to read an advance story which is a proxy of grade appropriate reading

1.3 Pragati Series

Collaborated with NGO Pratham to create foundational learning material for classes 6 to 8 called Pragati
The idea was expanded by SCERT Delhi to create Pragati series of supplementary learning material which is aligned with the topics of respective subjects and grades
Basic content for Pragati was created by teachers, edited by Mentor Teacher and reviewed by subject experts from DIETs
So far, four editions of Pragati books namely Pragati 1, 2, 3, and 4 already printer and circulated through regular revisions that incorporate the feedback of teachers

1.4 Summer Camps

Organized across 1024 schools of Delhi
Focused on developing activity based learning process among the students
Themes for the summer camp were Learning and Fun
Activities involved reading content, art and craft activities and some role play, dance or games
Weekly showcase by children motivated parent to participate in the camp
SMC members and teachers encouraged the parents to visit the camp

1.5 Learning Maths with 'Jodogyan'

Started in 2015 for children in classes 1 and 2 and to extend with one class each year to go up to class 5
Teachers were sensitized to a diffrent view of mathematics involving thinking and reasoning
Children were supported to solve problems by supporting the use of methods that they can connect to, for instance; the empty number line
The results of the mid-term assessment conducted in May 2017 show a three-fold improvement as compared to baseline
By midline about 40% of the children of the programme were able to locate numbers correctly

1.6 Kala Utsav

Kala Utsav is held to showcase the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of other states to enable people to understand and appreciate the diversity in India
NCT of Delhi was paired with Sikkim for the year 2016-17
Participation from 4235 students across 750 schools
Delhi State won First prize in Music at the National Level in 2016

1.7 Research on Early Childhood Care and Education

Catering to the need of 3-6 year-old children with learning and well-being
ECEDC will provide high quality play based preschool experience
10 Centres to engage children in slum clusters
Provide sites for faculty and student research

2. Bridging the Gap Between School and Home

2.1 Empowering School Management Committees

DoE partnered with the NGO Saajha to work on SMCs through a two pronged intervention model i.e. intensive and scale model
SMC members were trained on increasing eﬀectiveness of SMC training content, delivery, thus building a smooth state level process
Simplified grievance resolving process were instituted and responsiveness to the need of the school and the parents was increased
SMC sabhas were conducted for parent representatives of all schools in a constituency talk to the concerned department one on one about the issues faced by the school
Through SMC app, schools, communities, and parents were connected directly with decision makers through a simple mobile application
SMCs conducted Reading Melas aimed to help achieve the common goals set under 'Every child can read' plan

2.2 Mega Parent Teacher Meeting

Started in 2016 as Mega PTM across all government school on the same day
Mega Parent Teacher Meetings were introduced in each Govt schools under DoE
DoE eﬀectively publicized the event through FMs and newspapers leading to parents turning up to schools in large numbers
Points related to student regularity, punctuality, need for planning from the beginning of the session were discussed among teachers and parents

3. Mentoring

3.1 Mentor Teacher Program

Conceptualized in 2016, about 2000 teachers of DoE selected as first batch of Mentor Teachers (Mts) for 2 years
MTs got an opportunity to visit NIE Singapore to attend a 5 day workshop on mentoring and reputed organizations in India as part of their own training
Provided regular on-site support to teachers in their assigned 5-6 schools
Facilitated workshops organized by SCERT for 20,000 TGTs and 3000 Asst. teachers during the academic year 2016-17 and thereafter regular workshops for all teachers at zonal level
Edited content for Supplementary Learning Material (Pragati) for grades 6-8
Supported the Teacher development coordinators in finding contextual solutions to challenges at school level

3.2 Teacher Development Coordinator Program

Piloted in selected schools of DoE, Delhi in 2014
Each school had one full time teachers were selected as 'Education leader' to lead network activities with his/her peers
Education leaders were provided professional development training on facilitation skills, sharing classroom best practices through a dedicated Program Manager
Education leaders assessed the progress of network teachers on a monthly basis
Currently operational in 90 schools of Delhi with participation of 1300 teachers

3.3 Transformative Learning through Human Values

Value Education Program under the umbrella of 'Cell for Human Values and Transformative Learning'
Multiple workshops held for School Students, DIET trainees, Teachers, Teacher Educators, CRCs, BRPs SMC members, parents etc.
Workshop focused on enhancing humanness, human values and human consciousness

4. Training

4.1 Principal Development Program

Program to help identify the leadership qualities among the principals, nurture it, and then spread it among others
Some Government schools in Delhi were chosen to become 'the' model of development for other school
Series of workshops and interactive sessions at SCERT, DIET and DoE schools were conducted as a part of the Principal Development Program
Currently operating in 1024 Govt secondary schools through 60 motivated facilitators
Exposure and educational trip to IIMs, Cambridge and Finland

4.2 Online capacity building program for teachers

Started in December 2016
To build capacity of In-Service Teachers through online training for updating content knowledge as well as classroom delivery
Content is provided through an app platform and can be accessed on the Smartphone through a Mobile Application called Chalk Lit and from the web www.chalklit.in
2285 teachers already trained through the platform
The training on content are mapped as per the annual academic calendar of schools

4.3 Hands-on training of Special Educators

Special Education Teachers (SETs) were supposed to learn & develop Teaching Teaching Learning Material
Collaboration with NGOs to conduct hands on training for the SETs
Prepared the SETs for eﬀective planning, implementation and evaluation of Individual Education Plan (IEP) and group lesson plan

4.4 Establishing a Public Model of teacher education

SES will act as an hub for teachers' education and research
Will strengthen the teaching mechanism
Research will add value to budding teachers
Teachers can refer back to an expert at SES

5. Infrastructure for Excellence

5.1 Library in every school

The GNCTD allotted 100 crores in its annual budget of 2017-18 for setting up new libraries in the schools of Delhi
Initiative to promote reading habit and inculcate sense of creativity among among students
Introduced class libraries for 4500 sections from classed Nursery to V across 454 Sarvodaya Vidyalayas of Delhi
Introduced 400 New Libraries for Middle Classes (VI to X) in schools having high strength of students
Modernize library facilities for 1029 schools of DoE
MoU signed with Room to 'Read India Trust' to create unique library experiences for students of primary classes

5.2 Construction of new school buildings

8000 new classrooms constructed
54 model schools upgrading their infrastructure
Labs with modern facilities constructed

5.3 Appointment of Estate Manager

Estate manager for each Govt school appointed to look after the schools building
Estate manager supports in lightening the administrative burden of the HoD and helps in overall upkeep of the school
Liasonning with the external bodies like PWD becomes easier due to Estate Manager's involvement

5.4 Initiatives in Sports

Encouraging the students to adopt sports in their school time and participate at school level
Cash incentive to the sportspersons right from zonal level to international level
Financial assistance to the sportspersons for participating in international tournaments doubled
Large sums of money sanctioned for infrastructure development of sports facilities in the city

6. Innovations in Higher, Technical and Vocational Education

6.1 Reforms in Vocational Education

RMSA set a Program Management Unit (PMU) with three philanthropic organisations
Through regular Monitoring by the PMU, the quality of training have increased

6.2 Setting up World Class Skill Centre

World Class Skill Centre – “HUNAR” has been set-up under the aegis of DTTE
Providing courses in the field of: Retail services, Hospitality, Finance and Accounts and Information Technology
Center to train 10,000 students per year conceived at Jonapur

6.3 Facelift of ITIs

Degree level, diploma level and certificate level institutions functioning under DTTE
50,000 youth pass out of the portals of these institutions as skilled workspace every year
25+ Centres of Excellence were created with the help of industrial partners in government ITIs
Traditional labs have been converted into state of the art labs with latest tools and technology

6.4 Incubation centres for startups

Proposals were sought from the interested Educational institutes under DTTE to set up incubation centres
11 Incubation Centres were established and a grant of Rs 1.5 crore as a seed money for each
Accessible to the current students, alumni, faulty/staff including retired person and any other person
Experienced alumni have come forward to share their experiences and help the budding incubatees

6.5 Course on Sports Pharmacy

DPSRU is first of its kind Pharmacy University in India and second in the world
DPSRU signed an MoU with Sports Infrastructure & Talent Development Society (SITDS) to conceptualize innovative courses in sports sciences
50 students enrolled in the first batch
Course to equip young students with operational management tools and skills to ascertain their employability in fields, directly or indirectly related to sports

6.6 University Students Internship Program

DTU has launched University student internship program to provide opportunity to expose students to real life environment
Interns take up activities like university website development, database for publication, documentation etc
Interns in various departments has provided a helping hand to the HODs and deans
Program has reduced the gap between the students and the administration

6.7 Bachelor of Vocational (B. Voc.) programme

Nine Institutes of Technology were affiliated by GGSIPU for launch of B.Voc course from the academic year 2015-16 under NSQF
The program provides vertical mobility to students coming out of 10+2 with vocational subjects
ITI Students aspiring for graduate level courses were given direct entry in B.Voc Programme
School of Vocational Studies, AUD launched in 2017 providing Bachelor's degree in Retail, Hospitality and Child Care
Focus on employability and entrepreneurship

6.8 Financial assistance to students

The schemes aim at providing financial assistance to the needy students who are otherwise deprived of higher education
A good number of students willing to pursue higher studies outside Delhi will be benefited
Government guarantees the loan on behalf of the student
1544 students have applied for the financial assistance under this scheme
Till date education loans of approximately Rs 7.8 crores to 239 students have been sanctioned in the current academic year
Financial burden has been taken away on the part of students and parents
A financial friendly environment is created for higher education

6.9 Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Infosys Foundation has provided a grant of Rs 24 crore
Centre deals with applied aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition, Computer Vision and Deep Learning
35 Research papers published in reputed international journals
Over 20 PhD students working on AI

6.10 Prison project of National Law University

Centre for Constitutional Law, Policy, and Governance (CLPG) established in 2014
Impacting under-trials in Tihar Prison
Assisting jail authorities in implementing Section 436 A, CrPC
Formats of custody warrants revised by Delhi HC
Students got an opportunity to contribute to legal policy

The list highlighted points from report is quite long. Hope you enjoyed and understood the key transformations happening in Delhi Education System. Education is key for the development of any nation. At the end it is rightly said by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

There is so much poverty in our city and our country. There is only one solution to this and that is high quality education. If every child from a deprived background gets good education then within one generation, every family can pull itself out of poverty. This is the change that our nation needs because only an educated nation can become a developed nation.

Read complete document below.

You can see these 10 unimaginable photos of Delhi government schools here.

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