Identification-
Poor children outside the purview of formal primary education are identified on the basis of household survey as well as community participation.
One room schools-
One room schools are set up in villages with active community participation.
Each school has one teacher who is in-charge of 33 students.
Teacher selection and training-
Teachers are selected from the community itself through written
examination and viva. After her recruitment, she receives a two weeks residential
training on methods and techniques of teaching, class room discipline, curricula,
presentation skills and others. Simultaneously, refresher courses are held every
month to improve her teaching skills. Similarly, as the teacher graduates to the successive grade,
she receives week long training on curriculum up-gradation.
Methods of teaching-
Learning is facilitated in groups. Students are divided into groups of 5-6.
A weak student is paired with a comparatively brighter student in a group.
It is ensured that the students do not carry back any task for home.
Child centered and joyful methods of teaching are adopted in the classes.
No concept of examination exists till Grade II, so that students can enjoy their learning to the
fullest without examination phobia.
Students promoted to grade III and IV have to sit for examinations
designed in accordance with government model and are simultaneously subjected to daily and weekly evaluations.
Co-curricular activities-
Co-curricular activities are given importance to aid in appropriate physical and mental development.
Basic sanitation is also taught to the students to usher a healthy living environment.
Prohibition of violence -
Addressing corporal punishment and other forms of violence against children in schools,
communities and homes is strictly prohibited. Teachers are trained to adopt positive and
alternative reproving techniques while communities are trained to effectively monitor the
conduct of teachers and hold them accountable.
Parents – Teachers meeting-
Monthly parents-teachers meetings are held to update the parents about their children's performance and
requirements. These meetings also aid in monitoring the family scenario which can affect the progress
of the student. During these sessions, adoption of basic sanitation and hygiene are repetitively expounded
to the parents as well.
Community participation-
Community participation is very important for smooth running of these non-formal schools. The schools are managed on a participatory basis involving the parents in the planning and implementation process. Guardian Committee is formed and it takes up the responsibility of the school and the students.
School Committee-
For each school in a village, a school committee is simultaneously formed comprising of village elites.
Initially, the committee helps in identifying the prospective students of a village.
They also play an instrumental role in framing the rules and regulations of the school.
Later, their basic responsibility is to propagate the significance of education in the village and encourage parents to send their children to school regularly, thereby keeping a vigorous check on drop outs.
Monitoring System-
Each school is supervised at least 2-3 times in a week by the Education Officer. He supervises on
the attendance level of students and teachers, quality of education imparted in classroom, participation
level of students, teacher – student relationship, level of teacher’s compassion towards her students
and the like.