With an aim to get better results in the annual HSC examination for the coming academic year 2017, District Education Officer (DEO) Dr Pramod K Panda and his team have come up with some innovative initiatives being implemented this academic year in all secondary schools of the district.
“The average result of Sambalpur district in the annual HSC examination for the current year was 70.06 per cent as against the State average of 85.20. Against this background, the need for introducing innovative and focused initiatives in secondary schools of the district was felt to make the results at par or even more than the State average,” said Dr Panda in a meeting of the headmasters/headmistresses of the district organised for the purpose.
At the outset, a result analysis was done. Subsequently, a series of discussions and deliberations were conducted with headmasters, headmistresses, subject teachers and subject experts of the district. A fairly good number of issues associated with average performance emerged out of these consultations.
On having identified the possible issues associated with achievement of school children, a workable road map was developed in consultations with teachers and subject experts to address these issues. The secondary school headmasters of the district were then oriented in a one-day workshop on “Focussed Initiatives to Improve HSC Results 2017” to be implemented in all schools. It was inaugurated by former inspector of schools Giridhari Hota. A business session by Block Education Officers (BEOs) of Rengali, Jamankira and Jujomura followed.
The focussed initiatives included appeal to parents of Class X students in the form of a request letter from the DEO to send their children to school regularly, inquire from school authorities regarding their attendance, create a study atmosphere at home and support them in their studies. Further, regular contacts with parents over telephone and through home visits, adoption of students, reward to students having regular attendance and counselling of students/parents wherever necessary are some of the initiatives to be undertaken to address the issue of students’ absenteeism in schools.
Other strategies being implemented are entry level test of Class-X students in all subjects with the help of specially designed questions at district level by a panel of experts to identify learning level and learning gap, bridging the learning gaps by special classes and transaction of a workbook developed for the purpose, implementation of separate teaching strategies for low, average and high achievers, doubt clearance/ tutorial classes, practice of multiple choice questions and acquainting the students with techniques of answering board questions. “These initiatives are not only expected to strengthen speaking, reading and writing habits of the children but also contribute to improve of HSC results both in quantity and quality,” Dr Panda said.
Subject Teachers Forums in different subjects are also planned to be constituted. Teachers will share innovative and effective teaching practices, new thoughts and ideas and ways and means to resolve teaching learning issues through WhatsApp group in this forum. Regular block level demonstration classes and application of demo techniques learnt in schools by individual subject teacher will also help increasing and sustaining motivation and performance of both teachers and students. The performance and personality of teachers will be assessed through feedback from students and counselling / support will be provided to them if required accordingly.
“To monitor and supervise implementation of these strategies and also to provide onsite support, different levels of monitoring teams are formed consisting of departmental officers as well as subject experts. Teachers and students’ attendance and school performance will be monitored through WhatsApp group twice every day. Monthly analysis of information obtained will be made and corrective measures will be taken to improve performance of the district,” Dr Panda added.