|
Training of Government School
and Madrasa teachers by Jodo Gyan, Kolkata
January 2011
 |
Vikramshila’s Resource Hub ‘Pitara’
organised its first event of the year in collaboration with Jodo
Gyan, New Delhi. The training was attended 40 teachers
consisting Vikramshila’ teachers who undertake remedial lessons
in government schools, together with teachers of government
schools and madrasas from Kolkata and Burdwan.
Jodo Gyan’s materials on mathematics teaching were demonstrated
for instance, fraction kits, decimal kits, ganit mala etc. |
 |
 |
 |
Mr. E.K. Shaji, Director of Jodo Gyan facilitated the 1 day
training and shared the Jodo Gyan success stories, unique
methodologies and well researched pedagogies.
The teachers participated actively and requested for a follow up
workshop in the coming months. Vikramshila will be organising a
second workshop soon |
Naba Disha Childrens Dance
Drama ‘Aloye Phera’
January 2011
 |
Naba Disha children presented a dance drama titled ‘Aloye
Phera' on the 1st of January 2011, at Madhusudhan Mancha
from 10 am. This event marked at some level, the successful
completion of 10 years of Naba Disha - where the children who
just about entered the folds of education in Naba Disha centers,
are empowered today to bring out their talents and thoughts
through a drama presentation.
The children of Naba Disha prepared for this performance on the
special occasion of Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary. The drama
attempted to present the relevance of Tagore's writings and his
philosophy of justice, peace and truth in the lives of these
children, inspiring them to move from darkness to light - 'Aloye
Phera' - their return to light. The children were trained under
the guidance of distinguished singer Shrabani Sen, leading
choreographer Kohinoor Sen Barat and upcoming elocutionist
Suvadeep Chakraborty.
|
|
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. G. M Chakraborty and
renowned film actor, Ms. Rituparna Sengupta, lent their voice to
the drama narrative. Naba Disha’s newsletter, book of poems,
documentary film and research study was inaugurated in the
function.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. G.M Chakrabarty felicitated 25
Naba Disha children for their excellence in the board
examinations.
|
 |
|
Govt. Madrasa Teachers
Induction Programme 2010-11
December 2010
 |
As per Vikramshila’s partnership with the West Bengal Board
of Madrasa Education (WBBME), the Induction Training on
‘Foundations of Education’ continued this quarter. The trainees
were full time government madrasa teachers. This time, the
contact period was 4 days each, for 2 batches of 35 teachers
each. The content was a mix of philosophical and sociological
perspectives to education.
Social Stratification, State and Civil Society, Role of the
Teacher and Curriculum were some other areas taken up. There was
a lot of use of films, presentations and group activities to
make the training more attractive and interesting.
It created a lot of scope for interaction. This led to high
levels of participation from among the teachers.
|
|
Survey of Out of School
Children with the SSA
November 2010
With the introduction of the Right to Education Act, one of the
principal challenges for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is to identify and
enroll into formal schools, out of school children from all over the
country. Efforts are being taken by regional SSA structures all over
India. SSA, Kolkata invited partnership from NGOs working in
education to carry out surveys across the city. The entire city
was divided into wards and each partner NGO took up a number of wards
under them, to conduct the survey. Vikramshila, as one of the SSA
partners, undertook 7 wards of the city to carry out the survey. The
wards included were 73-78 and ward number 131.
|
Education to Employability
Convocation Programme for High School Students
July 2010
 |
The Convocation Programme of the Education to
Employability (E2E) Foundation Course, 2010, organized
by Vikramshila Education Resource Society, was held on
the 3rd of July, 2010 at G. D. Birla Sabhaghar, Kolkata,
West Bengal (India). Renowned industrialist Mr. Harsh
Neotia presided the event as Chief Guest. Mr. N.C.
Biswas, Director, News, All India Radio was the Guest of
Honor.
Mr. Satya Gopal Dey from CRY, Ms. Soma Chowdhury from
IL & FS ETS and Mr. Samir Ghosh from Kolkata Doordarshan
Kendra were also present to encourage the young minds.
304 students from Vikramshila’s partner government
schools (10 government aided, Bengali medium schools of
Kolkata), Nabadisha centres, Vikramshila’s rural school
at Bigha, Burdwan (West Bengal) and Mode Citizenship
centre in Titagarh attended the programme along with
their teachers and parents.
|
The programme was organised to was to felicitate the
students of these schools who had recently appeared for
their board examinations and had successfully completed the E2E
Foundation Course, 2010 of the Education to Employability
programme which takes them a step towards employability.
The 120 hours career counseling course was intensively
designed to equip the students with the knowledge in 6 main
areas- Personal Effectiveness, Social Effectiveness, Personal
Work Habits, Workplace Skills, Entrepreneurship Skills and ICT
education. 104 students successfully completed the foundation
course and were felicitated and certified in the convocation
ceremony by the guests.
The guests addressed the children to their level and
interest. Mr. Biswas and Mr. Dey related stories from their
childhood to encourage the students to think differently, to be
confident and explore new sectors. They added that all work was
noble and no form of work is unworthy or undignified. They
taught a valuable lesson to the students on dignity of labour.
Mr. Neotia addressed the students in a way that would touch
their hearts. He chose to narrate four stories about four
virtues---- honesty or truthfulness, forgiveness, compassion and
courage or fearlessness. Each little story struck cord with the
young minds. Mr. Neotia concluded by saying that one must
appreciate the beauty of life. He urged them to pray to God, not
a smooth life but the ability to fight and overcome obstacles
and dangers in their lives.
 |
Representatives from Dr. Reddy’s Foundation, India
Skills, CYSEC (Calcutta Youth Self Employment Centre)
and IQST (Institute for Quality Skills Training)
attended the convocation as well. These institutes are
well known in India in offering employment related
training to high school students in several areas,
following which they assist the students in seeking
placements and employment in different sectors, such as
Marketing, Retail, Customer Service Food and Beverages
etc. The idea was to expose these high school graduate
students, to such new opportunities available so that
they can develop the necessary skill sets to enter the
job market confidently.
The skills training institutes had set up desks with
their materials and information sheets. Many students
expressed interest and registered their names with the
different institutes. Some have already visited their
training centres and joined the programme. Ms.
Shubhra Chatterji, Director, Vikramshila addressed the
students encouraging them to explore the diversity of
the market in India today.With the new economy a host of
new sectors have come up that have very different kinds
of opportunities in them. |
She urged students to think out of the box and look beyond
traditional employment options, to develop the requisites new
skills and confidently step towards their new destinations.
|
 |
|