Transcript Project Update -- SVYM 2/10/2008 Viveka Tribal Center for Learning (VTCL) Goal: Quality Education, focusing on values, literacy, numeracy and appropriate vocational training through.

Project Update -- SVYM
2/10/2008
Viveka Tribal Center for Learning (VTCL)
Goal: Quality Education, focusing on values,
literacy, numeracy and appropriate vocational
training through joyful, experiential and child
centered learning process for children in
H.D.Kote Taluk, for the 6-15 age group,
particularly girls.
Updates, April-December 2007
Highlights of April:
• Summer camp, including bhajans, gymnastics, music, drama, etc.
• 92.1% pass result on SSLC Board Exam. Of 38 students, 12 got first
class, 16 second class.
Highlights of May:
• Spoken English classes were started for 10th standard students.
• Admissions process completed.
Highlights of June:
• School started
• Educational materials distributed
• Students participated in a mock election to understand the democratic
process.
• Children from 5th to 10th standard selected a hobby class to take twice a
week – music/dance.
• 10th standard students organized a recreational program
• Agriculture and horticulture Training Programme for tribal youth started with
10 students.
Highlights of July
• Intraschool sports meet
• Miss Joan (visiting from US) taught ESL, mainly to 8th-10th standards. Used
teaching methodology called Total Physical Response.
• health check-up program was conducted for students.
•Vanamahostava – three days of nature-related activities. Forest Officer
presented and students planted saplings.
• Sports Meet between VTCL and another school.
Highlights of August:
• “Samskrutha Sapthaha” – Samskrutha songs/skits/dance.
• Three-day “adventure camp” : museum visit, celebration of Independence Day.
• Parents Mela – Malathi discussed school activities, services, hostel, education.
• Independence Day: songs, poems, historical re-enacting, etc.
• Athletic meet held.
• Dr. Balu addressed the students with words of wisdom.
• Raksha Bandhan
Highlights of September:
• Teacher’s Day celebrated by students
• Gowri-Ganesh celebration held.
• Mentor camp: students presented school activities to parents.
• district teachers of NGO and GO schools visited VTCL.
Highlights of October:
• midterm examinations
• Dasara holidays
• Personality camp conducted for 16 students in 10th standard: discipline,
brotherhood, health and hygiene.
• professional development for teachers – workshop in Bangalore.
Highlights of November:
• Kannada Rajyothsava: enacted plays, wrote poems, etc. in Kannada.
Competitions were held.
• Sports Meet for Tribals.
• “Speed Mathematics” competitive exam given to 24 students.
• Educational sightseeing organized for students in the different standards –
including visits to zoo, historical sights, and temples.
• Dr. Balu presented creative teaching strategies to staff.
Highlights of December:
• students exhibited working models of fire extinguisher and human
respiratory system at Science Exhibition in Bangalore.
• math and science kits presented in school.
• quiz, monoacting, music to mark World Aids Awareness Day.
• 18th year anniversary for the school. Chief guest was Mr. Hamsalekha,
famous music director and composer in Kannada film industry.
Also in the six-month report:
• class schedule
• attendance by gender, and attendance in hostels.
• enrollment by standard/gender
• items given to each student
• school meal menu
Current Issues
Need to send the second installment of funds -- $1500.00
• With changing dollar-to-rupee conversion, it’s $1895.00
• (we sent Rs. 60030 in first installment, and he was promised $3000*44 rupees
given the old exchange rate, so assuming a “current” exchange rate of 38, we
owe him 71970/30 or $1895.00.)
Malathi’s two visits to the US
• her current one: International Visitor Leadership Program, sponsored by
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• she is visiting again in April/May, staying with Miss Joan who works as a
teacher in a tribal school in NM. We would like to arrange for her to visit ASHA
chapters and meet educational leaders near the local chapters (Boston, Silicon
Valley, SD).
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA YOUTH MOVEMENT
VIVEKANANDA TEACHER’S TRAINING AND RESEARCH CENTRE
Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement is a Development Organization, started
in 1984 and works mainly in the sectors of health, education and community
development. More information is available at www.svym.org.in.
The
organization has been working with the tribals of Heggadadevanakote in
Mysore district for more than 20 years and runs schools, hospitals, livelihood
centers and micro-credit programs for them. The education programs of the
organization have now begun to see a lot of success and new generations of
neo-literates are now emerging amongst the tribals.
One of the key challenges that are facing the tribals today is lack of
committed and trained teachers willing to work in tribal areas. We intend
overcoming this gap by training tribal students and enabling them to get a
formal qualification in teaching. This will not only help improve the quality of
learning outcomes amongst the tribal children, but also provide much needed
employment opportunity to the upcoming generation of tribals.
With this in mind, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement has started the
Vivekananda Teacher’s Training & Research Center (VTTRC) at Hosahalli
tribal colony. This institute will now train tribal and rural youth in creative
teaching and fill a critical gap in the school delivery system in the area.
Goal: To train and create value based teachers to meet the educational
needs of rural and tribal areas in Karnataka state.
Strategy planned: A total of 50 students will be admitted to the program.
Out of this 25 students will be directly admitted by the Government through
their admission cell. The remaining 25 students will be admitted by Swami
Vivekananda Youth Movement. Out of this 10 students will be admitted from
tribal areas of Karnataka and 15 students from other rural areas.
Preference will be given to tribal children who have graduated from the
Viveka Tribal Center for Learning.
The curriculum and syllabus as outlined by the National Council for Teacher
Education and the DSERT, Karnataka will be followed. Apart from this
emphasis shall also be given to Value education, contextually relevant
education and in Life Skill education.
The program will be managed by a Principal with the support of Teacher
Educators, an Accountant and an Office Assistant. They shall also be assisted
by part time faculty in Music, Drawing, Computer instructor and a sports
teacher.
Presently 20 tribal students are studying in the Center. 10 of them were
admitted last year (2006-07) and 10 of them have been admitted this year
(2007-08). Financial support is being sought for the education of these 20
tribal children.
Budget: It has been estimated that the total cost of the program will be Rs.
43,000 per student per year. This will include the cost incurred on personnel
cost, educational materials, uniforms, health care, exposure and educational
tours, examination fees, fees paid to the Government etc. The Government
has pledged to support the program by contributing Rs. 18,000 per student.
Each student is being encouraged to pay Rs. 5000 per year towards the
program. This participation fees will help promote ownership and
responsibility amongst the tribal community. Support of Rs. 20000 per
student per year is being sought.
Total cost per student:
Rs. 43,000
Support pledged by the Government of Karnataka: Rs. 18,000
Participation fees from the tribal student:
Rs. 5,000
Total sponsorship support sought per student: Rs. 20,000
Total amount required for supporting 20 students for this year: Rs.
400,000