2017-2015

 

Childrens Day

November 2017

SHG groups from 11 villages in Bankura came together to plan, organize and orchestrate a grand children’s day celebration involving students and teachers of 6 primary schools in the area. The event was a culmination of a continuous engagement with the community as a part of TRANSFORM RURAL INDIA program. Through this intervention we are working closely with women collectives (SHGs) as a base to promote community led initiatives in primary schools and Anganwadi centres…. thereby building community ownership in public education system. The intervention seeks to create a system where all the stakeholders, namely the school, community and the children are in harmony to ensure smooth functioning of the education system leading to better quality of education for primary school going children. About 300 students, 700 SHG members, teachers and HMs of 6 primary schools joined hands to work together and make this event possible. Hundreds of villagers attended the program to witness the spirit of creativity and co-learning as little children performed a myriad of cultural program upholding the local cultural tradition and showcased their work in theme based pavilions.

 

Life Skills and Career Counselling program

November 2017

Life Skills and Career Counselling program, as a joint initiative of Bihar Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad and Unicef-Bihar, was started in May 2016 in 100 schools spread across 6 districts. Vikramshila Education Resource Society provided hand holding support to 20 schools of Patna district. To recognize efforts of schools, teachers, HMs and students and to share the impact of the intervention with government, Unicef and all stakeholders, a closing cum felicitation event was organized at Hotel Panache, Patna, on 23rd November 2017. The students showcased their efforts through Gallery walk, English conversation and Skit on themes related to Life Skills, Career Counselling, Communicative English & IT; the four modules that were part of the intervention. Some teachers, students and HMs came forward and shared their experience of being part of this program and their learnings from it. The Hon'l Education Minister from Bihar, Shri Krishnanandan Prasad Verma appreciated the effort and reminiscing his school days, mentioned that as a student, he had also felt that something similar should have happened in his school. He interacted with the students and tried to understand the entire process from their perspective.

Active Citizenship for Active Learning

June 2017

Amid the incessant violence and growing intolerance, a variety of scholars, activists, teachers, government officials, and NGO representatives shared the need of active citizenship in schools in a Round Table Discussion organized by West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, chaired by Ananya Chakraborti on 30th June. Anjali Noronha from Eklavya presented the keynote address on appropriate pedagogy from Active Citizenship Education. She curved out the difference between civics and citizenship education-while civics, a colonial concept, moulds a law abiding citizen who honourably dispenses his duties, it does not encourage questioning or dissent, which is fundamental basis of citizenship education.

 

Felicitation of Madrasa Students

June 2017

June 2017: Shehba Shabnam and Syed Nasrin Nahar - two of our meritorious students from Nawabpur Madrasah are being felicitated by WBCPCR West Bengal under the encouraging leadership of Ananya Chakraborti - Honourable Chairperson of WBCPCR. These students are from Vikramshila's initiatives on "Quality Intervention in Government Aided Madrasah in Hooghly District.'' The motivational award to the students was being handed over by Ms.Stuti Kakkar IAS (Retd) - Honourable Chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Ms. Roshni Sen, IAS, Secretary @Women and Child Development and Social Welfare - Government of West Bengal, during the Child Protection Day celebrations.

Pre Service Teacher training on School and Society with MACE

May 2017

This year we again got an opportunity to conduct a teacher training course on School and Society. During this period, we explored the school and schooling place as in society. We began the discussion with the aims of education, and the role of schools in a democracy. Further we discussed the process of socialization that leads to the cultural and ethical basis of democratic practice in the classroom. We have a special focus on gender socialization, as a case in point, and the role of media as a socializing agent. The last day of the session gave an opportunity to critically review children's media based on positive role models, violence, stereotypes and language.

Right to Education Act – In Action, Bigha, Burdwan

April 2017

Our work with support from CRY in 17 Government schools in the Monteswar block of Burdwan, West Bengal was applauded by Ananya Chakraborti – Honourable Chairperson, West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights at a consultation on the ‘’Right to Education Act.”

'Discourse of Social Science curriculum of Tripura with SSA, Rajya Mission

april 2017

A State educators' convention was organized by Vikramshila Education Resource Society in collaboration with SSA Rajya Mission on 'Discourse of Social Science curriculum of Tripura'. Over the course of this one day convention, the teachers experienced the process of active learning by searching for answers through observation, thinking and reasoning.

Special Award to Shubhra Chatterji from CINI

february 2017

A proud moment for all of us when Ms. Shubhra Chatterjee - Director Vikramshila was conferred a Special National Level Award by Child in Need Institute ( CINI) during the 43rd Foundation held at Satyajit Ray auditorium ( ICCR) on the 1st February. CINI every year during their foundation day conferred this award to the personalities at the State, National and International Level for their significant contribution in the field of Child Rights.

ITE Mela with Sarva Shiksha Mission, Kolkata

January 2017

ITE Mela organised by Vikramshila Education Resource Society, in collaboration with SSM, Kolkata, supported by Tata Trusts on 19th January. Students of 30 government schools of Kolkata prepared their project on various issues & presented in this Mela. Programme jointly inaugurated by Mrs. Sunanda Mukhopadhyay Chairperson for West Bengal Commission for Women, Mr. Kartick Chandra Manna, Chairman of #SSM, Kolkata & Ms. Amina Charania, Associate Professor, TISS.

Closing Ceremony of Life skills and Career Readiness Camp’

January 2017

We witnessed the self-made documentaries and theatrical performances where the voices of young women of ‘Life skills and Career Readiness Camp’ resonated around Rotary Sadan, in presence of the Chief Guest and Guest of Honours, Dr. Shashi Panja – Minister of State (Independent Charge) Women and Child Development and Social Welfare as Chief Guest. The distinguished Guests of honour were Ms. Ananya Chakraborty, Chairperson, WB Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Govt of WB, celebrated singers Neepabithi Ghosh and Surojit Chatterjee, eminent dancer Alakananda Roy and Mr.Greg Pardo , Asst Public Affairs Officer of US Consulate General Kolkata). The event also launched the Udita program, implemented by Vikramshila in collaboration with US Consulate General.

On March 28,2015, we celebrated the completion of 25 years of our journey in our characteristically low-key manner with just the members of our staff, members of our governing body and donors and well-wishers who have been with us for a decade or more. This was also the year when many young people joined our staff and this celebration had a significance for them too as the mirror-window metaphor that was used by everyone to look ahead while recollecting the past, helped them to put things in perspective. The world of 1989 was significantly different from the one in 2015, and it is inevitable for an organisation to get shaped by the landscape through which it moves. Our country is changing fast and yet some of the basic problems remain the same, for which we must continue with our work to ensure that equity of learning and quality with equity is realised for all children in our country. At the same time, we must prepare ourselves to face new challenges that are likely to emerge with changing circumstances.