1)This may seem basic but we are trying to understand how you have figured out where you will work. It sounds like you tried your pilot program in D ward and then switched to F, G north and south wards? Can you give us some details on how you have been choosing where you will work? How have you figured out which schools to work long term with? Also you are no longer working with the D ward?

 

From June 1995 to April 2001 when we worked with 25 schools (22 in D ward and 3 in G-south) it was because they were near the 3 trains-stations and easier for us to reach the material and to keep in touch with. Now, the G-south and North (F ward was chosen in the beginning of 2nd phase but later changed. In one of the earlier e-mails / reports the reasons are explained i.e. other agency working there) were chosen because,
· They have wide section of multi-linguistic/cultural population.
· Part of it falls in Dharavi. So economically more limiting conditions prevalent. More challenging.
· We are not working with D ward right now.

2)In your report you mention that you are addressing the areas of environmental sciences, value education and work experience. We could not figure out how you address the last area? Most of the material we have seen seems to address the first two.

 

'Work Experience' is a separate subject in the curriculum. But there are no structured lessons/classes held for this in any school : In our view; work-experience ought to be an integrated part of all learning and life. Through the surveys, small projects in 'Sangati' sessions we achieve this. Work experience in our understanding is based on values elucidated in Gandhiji's 'Basic Education'. So its a process, an attitude rather than only outcomes. But we do have activities which are outcome oriented - like community survey, cleanliness project, observing/ taking care of trees etc. See our sessions from Kit 1 and 2 for more information on this).

3)It sounds like the teacher manuals are being printed only in Hindi and Marati. You have mentioned that the mateiral for children come in multiple languages. How about teacher manuals in the other languages? Or is this not necessary?

 

As you can see the cost of production for manuals is very high. We can't print small number of copies for each separate in absence of exact demand for certain languages. Besides this, the Bombay teachers do understand Hindi very well. They are quite happy with the existing support. For south Indian schools English copies of session-plans are also given. Children's material as you know is in their own mother tongue.

4)Unicef only funded the NGO MMC cell or portions of the Sangati program itself? Could you let us know which ones? Who else has funded your efforts?

 

UNICEF Funds the Avehi-Abacus Project (Sangati) programme too besides the BMC NGO Cell.
They fund Sangati for the following components.
1. Local Transport for workshop expenses held for BMC Teachers
2. Salaries of supervisory administrator and two supervisors (We have 6
in all)
At present besides you CRY too supports us for the following:
1. Education (Core-team) salaries
2. Administration salaries

5)What has the response of the teachers/students who have gone through a school year been? How have you been evaluating this? Do the teachers complain about extra burden? Actually which months of the school year is Sangati included? When does the teacher training happen?

 

To do justice to this series of questions I need another 5-6 days. But to tell you briefly; 85% of teachers and 100% children are extremely happy with Sangati. We do get questionnaires filled-in by children, teachers, our observers write reports of visits, and the BMC research Unit is also doing its evaluation. The report may be ready by end May. But we do feel the need for a more interactive process documentation and deeper study. We would like to involve separate organisation/ experts to
do this, but will require more financial support. UNICEF is willing to extend help. Within a month we will finalise the details. Teachers (with exception of about 15/20 of them i.e. 5%) don't complain bitterly about extra work. They are genuinely burdened with other work. But they do feel they'd do better at Sangati given more time.

Sangati sessions are done all through the year every week. Except exams/holidays. In G-south: Tuesday- Thursday. (11 - in morning shift schools. 3.45 in afternoon shift schools) and in G-North Wednesday and Saturday (Same timings). Last year the sessions began in August/September and will finish the this week end 23rd or at the most 28th March. Next year we hope to start them by mid July so that they can be over latest by 15th March.

Teacher training happens n the beginning of the academic year and the mid term last year Kit I training was done in first week of August 2001 and kit 2 training in first week of January 2002. This academic year we will have Kit 1 and Kit 3 training in June end/July beginning (respectively for Std. V and VI teachers) and Kit 2 and 4 training in mid December (also respectively for Std. V and VI teachers). Will tell you the 1st training dates within a month from now.


 

6)Are you integrated with the B-Ed course or is the Avehi teachers training only through a separate diploma? If so what has the teacher enrollment been like?

 

We are not linked with B. Ed. (Bachelors in Education) Course - neither do we have a separate diploma. We did an integrated module for D. Ed. Course (Diploma in Education). This is a 2 year course after XII Std. But right now we only do an integrated. In-service training of our own with BMC teachers and separately with other NGOs/ schools if they need specific inputs. We do need to make efforts so that all D. Ed. colleges use our course material but this work we are not doing right now. It'll need more intense work including training teacher trainers/ teachers and making ready to use course material in printed from. This is a separate part of our work which has taken back-seat due to the emphasis on completing and disseminating the Sangati series. We do use elements of our 'Pre-service teachers training' curriculum in our on going work and both are complementary. So there no separate enrolment as there is no separate course. When the pre-service teachers modules are used they will/are to be used in the existing collages and as of now, we don't intend 'opening' a separate institution for this. As far as possible 'we' want 'our efforts' to integrate into the existing system - both government and non-government.


 

7)Could you send us information on the best times of the year to visit the schools and teachers training programs?

 

Best times to visit the schools are:
1st August to September 2002,
23rd September 2002 to 30th October 2002,
18th November 2002 to 30th March 2003


 

8)MMC is doing a continuous evaluation? How has this been working out? What are the problems you have had working with them? Have other groups started any evaluation? How about your own? How do you do this?

 

MMC Research Unit is doing evaluation. But frankly we are not very happy with it. We find it very superficial. (The report will be ready by end May) . We have tried to do process documentation, collecting basic information from children, teachers both written and through interactions /observations. We will try to compile our own report too within 1 and ½ month from now. For next year we are trying to get external agency/ group of experts to do this. Will let you know as the plan is finalised. UNICEF is interested in supporting us for this.


 

9)Sangati is now a three year program for the children right? If the inauguration was in December - what was being taught to the children June-Dec 2001?

 

Yes, 'Sangati' is now a three year programme for teachers and children of Std. V,VI and VII i.e. age group, roughly 8/9 to 13/14 years. The word. 'Inauguration' seems to have confused matters for you. From June to December 2001 Kit 1 was being used in G-south and North wards BMC Schools. The 'Inauguration/Launch' was to let it be formally known to the non-MMC schools/ NGOs who might be interested. It was making 'Public' our efforts to other users. To remind you we have decided to sale copies of Kits to private schools/ NGOs. Each Kit is priced Rs. 3000/- If people buy 2 Kits together they pay Rs. 5000/-. We can give further discount if more copies are purchased. If all the remaining (250 copies) are sold we can generate substantial revenue; so that some items in next budgetary year can be looked-after by us. In one of my earlier email, I've written expansively on this. I'm resending it. In fact, we need your approval/suggestions for this.

 

The teachers' workshop reports are at present in Marathi. I'll try to translate and send this. Please give me some time for this. Sending details of seminar on 'globalisation and Education by tommorrow.