Prakash: Imparting Quality Primary E-ducation

ByAniket Ghosh Choudhury

Shruti TanejaHarab Rasheed

Rohit RoyYanshie Bahuguna

Problem StatementLack of facilities/resources in imparting quality primary education and absence of application-oriented learning Present State of Primary education

NGO

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rs• The drop out rate of children at primary level is 28.7 % according to the Statistics

of School Education 2010-2011• Primary schools within reach of 1 km for 90% population have just 1 or two class

rooms with almost no running water or toilets• Of the 200 million children in the age group 6-14, it is estimated that 59 million

are out of school. Of these 35 million are girls• Lack of functional literacy and numeric skills in students of age group 6-14, even

in most educationally advanced States, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu

• Less than 2 teachers are available in the rural areas to teach a class size of around 100 students

• Teacher apathy & absenteeism are the main causes of lack of effectiveness • Over 99 percent of the 7.95 lakh teachers who appeared for the latest Central

Teacher Eligibility Test, a benchmark for teacher eligibility, failed to clear the exam

Based on the constraints, there is a need for an effective, sustainable & technology oriented teaching model

• RTE has helped reduce the number of out-of-school children from 20 million in 2000, to 2.3 million in 2006 and 1.67 million in 2010-11.

• Different rules and regulations of the RTE are not given required publicity• The Act has provision for appointing only contract teachers and for denying

dignified salaries with social security

• 71% of surveyed NGOs have highest needs around AV equipment and computer/desktop/laptops

• 65% of surveyed NGOs expressed the need for specialised educational software• 82% of surveyed NGOs have highest need in teaching and training staff, followed

closely (76%) by fund-raising, sales and marketing

• Most of the IT & BPO companies invest in educational initiatives of different types as part of their CSR initiatives

• Limited reach & lack of sustenance and effectiveness in CSR initiatives undertaken

Proposed SolutionDevelop a state-of-art curriculum, methods and modes of teaching involving all stakeholders of education

PrakashE-ducation

model

GovernmentFunds for State-of-art Computer/TV Lab, Basic infrastructure, maintenance, Wifi internet, educational resources

Concepts• Montessori approach• Hole-in-the-wall concept• Khan Academy method

NGO• Volunteers recruitment

& training through offline and online modes

• Model implementation in rural areas

Corporate• Employee engagement for

training, curriculum & educational software, portal development, volunteering

• Contribution of Computer Systems, Monetary Funding

Citizens• Campus Ambassadors for

Social Media Marketing, Volunteering, On-Ground Activities

• Contribution of educational videos through Youtube

Advantages over existing system• A highly organized model ensuring proper coordination and utilization of various stakeholders in imparting quality

primary education• A low cost model due incorporation of technology & application oriented and practical methods of teaching• Minimal involvement and interaction of human resources and optimized use of existing resources • Leveraging existing social media tools such as Facebook, Youtube for awareness and contribution among

technology enabled individuals

Benefits of Prakash model?Innovational learning (Using Titan Concept)• Learning algebra and geometry with the help of toys and models• Usage of recycled material for all art and craft purposes• Use of poems to teach concepts in geometry, science and

geography• Use of newspaper for sketching/ painting for pre-primary level

students• Students writing autobiography• Creative book reviews with paintings, encouraging reading habit at

an early age• Children of workers and employees are taught together under the

same roof thus fostering principles of equality

ducation

Hole-in-the wall concept• groups of children learn on their own without any

direct intervention (Minimally Invasive Education)• Children using Learning Stations require little or no

inputs from teachers and learnt on their own by the process of exploration, discovery and peer coaching

• More effectual method over Conventional pedagogy which focuses on the teacher's ability to disseminate information in a classroom setting

• Without any formal education, children begin to grasp the complexities of scientific and mathematical concepts

E-learning using Khan Academy method• Platform for coaching: Tracking of students and their history as they

change tutors, Tracking of topics and their reception by class• Variety of subjects can be accessed from any part of world through

a PC with internet• Youtube hosting of educational videos involves low cost outsourcing• E-learning can track students for their whole academic life• Results in Finer statistics meaning better usage of resources:

Teacher is able to stay with students currently left behind, discover problematic areas

• Proficient students can tutor weak students on a given topic inculcating peer learning

• Children are able to control the rate at which information presented because of pause/play feature available in videos

Possible Intangible/Indirect benefits• Even parents of urban & suburban communities will

be motivated to send their children to govt. schools providing a sustainable revenue model for school (Arvind Eyecare model)

• Reduced absenteeism of School Teachers/children because of computer learning experience

Phases of Model Implementation

Planning PhasePrakash Labs are wifi or internet enabled labs with proper power backup which will be constructed in primary schools. It will contain Audio/Visual equipment, Computers and other educational resources

Activity Stakeholder Facts/Figures

• Integration of Prakash Model in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan• Allocation of Funds and resources for construction of

Labs in schools, audio-visual equipment, basic infrastructure such as internet connection, toilets, power, repairs

Government • Rs. 403 crore to be spent durinf 2013-2014 during the flagship programme, SSA

• A sum of Rs.73.60 crore will be provided for major repairs of 826 schools

• Supply of proper functioning computers with pre-installed operating systems and computer accessores(headphones) to the Labs

Corporate • Maitree, the CSR arm of TCS, has already developed a portal for supplying second hand computers to schools

• Development of educational software based on NGO/School Teacher Inputs

• Development of Prakash Website for online volunteer recruitment, syllabus, forums, information of schools & NGOs involved, progress updates, volunteer & NGO login, software training for volunteers, training manual downloads

• Employee engagement for development of portal, software

Corporate, Govt. School, NGO

• Indian IT & BPO industry provides direct employment to about 2.8 million

• IIT Bombay has developed an educational software for primary school kids

• Infosys, TCS, Wipro have highest ratings in KarmoyogCSR Survey

• 2% of three-year average annual profit to be spent for CSR activities

• Devise syllabus/curriculum incorporating application oriented techniques (playway, Montessori) e-learning methods(Khan Academy)

NGO, Corporate

• Khan Academy Urdu/Hindi is already available in youtube

• The Titan School initiative has the made use of innovative methods of teaching fostering self-development and confidence at an early agae

• Approval of the new syllabus as the standard syllabus of primary schools where Prakash model is implemented

Government

Activity Stakeholder

• Setting up of Computer Systems and installation of educational software in the Labs

Corporate

• Training of government school teachers regarding basic applications of computer usage, software, internet

Corporate, NGO

• Devising a 1 hour per week volunteering programme for nearby NGO/primary govt. school in which volunteers will be grouped and sent for training and teaching purposes based on availability.

• Volunteer management handled by SPOCs assigned for every class in the school

• Promotion of Volunteering programme in the offices of the company

Corporate

• Inviting applications for volunteering in the online e portal & volunteer management

• promotion of Prakash website in Facebook• Setting up of youtube channel and inviting

contributions from public for recording teaching videos and uploading them in the channel (based on perimeters specified and quality)

NGO

• Starting the Campus Ambassador programmeacross various colleges for engaging college students in volunteering, social media marketing, sales and on-ground activities of spreading awareness of Prakash model

NGO

Activity Stakeholder

• Maintenance of Prakash website/portal, youtube content

Corporate, NGO

• Maintenance of basic facilities in the school• Maintenance and supply of educational

resources required for students

Government

• Online/Paper Tests conducted on a regular basis for students and results maintained in the portal database

• Students progress report maintained in the portal & accessible to every teacher(volunteer) for review & analysis

NGO, Corporate

Implementation Phase

Monitoring Phase

Salient Features of the Prakash teaching concept• At Pre-primary level, the focus will be on pre reading and

pre writing skills catering to social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language development. The classes will have activities which will facilitate self directed learning which will reduce the dependency on teachers and increase confidence of kids

• At primary level, the approach will be interdisciplinary in nature with prime focus on team work and collaborative learning thus fostering multiple intelligences. Also importance to Art, music, sports will be given

• “rote learning” will be eliminated by exposing them to educational videos of maths & science which will make interactions in the classroom more personal, effective and learning at student’s pace. Also videos will be available in vernacular language format

Volunteer Allocation & Management Process

Central Management

System handled by NGOS

Volunteer Recruitment drives

through NGOS

Employee Engagement

Programme in CSR activities

Volunteer Source

Online recruitment of Volunteers through

portal

Scalability of Prakash Model• The model can be stretched across rural primary schools if implementation in

urban schools proves successful and additional teachers are recruited• The model can be extended to upper primary and secondary govt. schools (Eg.

The Department of Primary and Secondary Education and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) will jointly launch tele-education in government schools

• Model is scalable across other poor nations such as Africa, Bangladesh

Association of NGOs with Colleges for

student volunteers

IT infrastructure managed by IT

companies

• Teaching/language/day/location preference taken from volunteer

• Volunteers mapped based on the nearest location from their office/home

• Maximum Contribution of 2 hours per volunteer per week on rotation basis

• School of 200 students will require 10 volunteers per day

• Each Volunteer will have login credentials to track progress of every student assigned under him/her

• Training of students/teachers will require additional volunteers for 3 months after which volunteers will be required only for teaching pre-primary kids

For coverage of 78250 Urban Primary Government

Schools of India, a total of 7,80,000 volunteers per day

are required

Tota

l Fun

ding

Req

uire

d Lab Setup Costs:

Rs.1 lac per school

IT Hardware costs: Rs. 15000 per System

IT Software costs:Rs. 5000 per system

Educational Aid Costs:Rs. 2 lacs per school

Total number of Govt. primary schools in India (urban) = 78250

Total number of systems required per school = 40

Estimated Total Costs= 78250*1100000 =

8607 crores

Total Funding required (Calculated for Urban Primary Govt. Schools)

Proposed sources of Funding

Corporate• The new companies bill, in the process of

being notified into law requires companies to spend 2% of three-year average annual profit for CSR activities

• The CSR norms would be applicable to companies having either net worth of Rs500 crore or more; turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more; or net profit of Rs 5 crore or more

Estimated Total Costs= 78250*300000 =

2347 crores

If technology costs are borne by Corporate

World Bank• The World Bank today approved two

education projects worth USD 1.05 billion (4800 crores) for India, designed to boost the number of children enrolling in and completing elementary school, and to improve quality of engineering education across the country

• The Bank has supported the SSA with total grants of USD 1.1 billion since 2003

Government• Union govt can incorporate the

funding in its education budget after having implemented in one of the States for feasibility testing purpose

Phlanthrophists• According to Bain’s Indian

Philanthropy report, contribution from donors would increase over 20% if significant impact is created

• Inconsistent supply of volunteers from NGOs and companies

• Lack of volunteers for teaching in rural primary school

Challenges and Mitigation Factors

Challenges & Risks Mitigation FactorsGovernment• Recruitment of additional teachers in primary

schools and improving present teacher student ratio of 4:200

• Improvement of salaries of teachers and upgrade of B.Ed Exam

• Govt sponsored internships for studentsCompany• Addition of CSR as one of value addition

activities in employee’s performance evaluation• Utilization of IT employees in bench

• Insufficient contribution of video lessons in vernacular languages, videos having poor quality, content, depth

• Some companies may not consider the model as worth spending

Government• Association with Universities for course content

delivery by professors, teachers, students• Government recognized awards for contribution of

volunteering hours/course content developmentNGOs/Companies• Awareness/ Advertising Campaigns such as

Marathon, Flash Mobs

• Supply of computers systems by companies may not keep pace with the demand

Government• Free distribution of “Akaash” tablets to primary

schools

• Integration with existing Govt. prescribed curriculum can take time due to multiple layers of bureaucracy involved in approval process

NGO/Companies• A pilot project recognized by Govt. should be

implemented in one of the States and the results should be submitted along with a proposal to the Central Govt. for full phase implementation

• http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/right-to-education-act-has-failed-the-no-fail-policy-anil-sadgopal-113050400584_1.html

• http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-rte-act/article4735501.ece

• http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/education/india-at-the-bottom-rungs-of-education-ladder-unesco/article4800996.ece

• http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/education/average-indian-spends-only-5-years-at-school-world-bank/article4778677.ece

• http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/teleeducation-to-be-launched-in-government-schools-soon/article4955475.ece

• http://www.slideshare.net/futurescape/indian-it-companies-csr-initiatives-on-education

• http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/rs403-crore-for-primary-education-sector/article4791232.ece

• http://www.thehindu.com/features/education/world-bank-provides-105-bn-to-improve-education-in-india/article258063.ece

• http://www.pavansoni.net/2011/09/titans-of-tomorrow.html

• http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-26/mumbai/40205974_1_bmc-schools-civic-schools-nitin-wadhwani

• http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/1080891/

• http://guardianlv.com/2013/09/khan-academy-could-change-education/

• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/CSR-should-bring-smile-to-people-not-profit-for-companies-Sachin-Pilot/articleshow/22204015.cms

AppendixPress Articles Reports

• Bain’s Indian Philanthropy Report 2013• Deloitte Report: URGENT NEEDS OF NGOs IN

THE EDUCATION SECTOR• Karmayog CSR Ratings 2010• Seventh All India School Education Survey by

NCERT• Elementary Education in Inda: Progress toward

UEE, 2011-2012