Project Background and Description
In 2004-06, APCL had run a project with CEF on ‘Education for Democracy’. In this project, it was found that there was a need to orient learning systems to take care of the socio-cultural context of the underprivileged. For this purpose, it would be better to have laboratories in different subjects, where we can supplement the care and concerns of the underprivileged. In the project teaching learning materials and books were developed for setting up Social Science Laboratories in schools in the class VI to IX. A book was also developed for creating awareness of interactive laws. In order to enhance the self-esteem of underprivileged section three pictorial story books on Shabari was developed. The materials have been used for setting up Social science labs in different schools of Patna, Samastipur and Darbhanga districts. The pictorial book-sets on Shabari are being used widely for motivational purposes in Mahila Samakhya programme and also by Dalit communities and Non-Governmental Organizations in their motivational programmes for dalits in general and Musahars in particular. It also transpired during the project that we need special targeted materials to meet the special needs of the local underprivileged communities so that their self-esteem may be enhanced which is a pre requisite for any quality learning programme.
In the year 2007, APCL conducted a programme on “Broad streaming of underprivileged education in Jamsaut Panchayat”. The project tried to identify the special learning needs including content and transaction methodology of the underprivileged sections of society and worked on underprivileged children mainly belonging to Musahar community to formulate proper strategy for ensuring right to education in respect of underprivileged community.
A survey of underprivileged children showed that the children of underprivileged children did not get proper environment at home conducive to motivate them to go for learning. So we have to work at both school and community level. Creative Learning Centres were established and run in the hamlets of underprivileged sections to complement and supplement the learning at school. This has proved very successful for first generation learners and other vulnerable groups. Workshops of stakeholders, VEC members and Panchayat workers were also conducted. Wall writing related to new interactive pictures and social issues related to mathematics, language, social studies were done on the walls of schools. The pictures were so designed that they enhance the self esteem of underprivileged section of society.
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