Science teachers from 116 affiliated schools of the Welfare Department in Jharkhand are being imparted special training on activity based science teaching at Kejriwal Institute of Management and Development Studies, Pindrakom, Teteri, Namkom.
This training programme is being organized by Department of Welfare in partnership with UNICEF, Jharkhand. The three day training is scheduled between April 10 and 13. It is being facilitated by Eklavya, a known organisation in science education.
During the training emphasis is laid on training the teachers for teaching science using locally available material in the rural areas. Teachers are being exposed to wide range of learning material including books, science kits and charts, besides practice on hands on science experiments.
They are also being trained on running science clubs in schools to nurture children’s scientific temper and science skills in rural areas.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act emphasises on activity based learning in every school through child-friendly child-centered processes.
The training programme is being conducted for two batches of science teachers simultaneously. Emphasis is also laid on hands on science activities using locally available material and NCERT textbooks that are used in the schools.
Teachers are being enabled to understand the nature of science, how children learn science, role of teacher in facilitating activity based science learning and use of local resources for science learning in rural areas, etc.
After the training teachers are expected to understand the nature and processes of science, practice hands on science experiment using locally available material, carry the science education programme ahead and run science clubs in school to nurture scientific temper and other skills in children.
In 2012 also teachers of Welfare Schools were trained for developing RTE compliance in schools and were familiarized with activity based learning in subjects at primary level.
Also teachers have been trained for effective Mathematics learning and English learning in past. Other than capacity building, UNICEF, Jharkhand has supported quality improvement in the schools through regular visits and helped develop schools as RTE compliant ‘Bal Priy Vidyalaya’.