CAL

All training and development of E-content and ICT materials were done by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), Kerala the erstwhile IT@School. KITE has a comprehensive web portal namely SAMAGRA for the effective use of ICT in the teaching learning process in schools. SAMAGRA has over 10,000 digital resources for all subjects from Std 1 to 12, in the form of videos, animations, audios, stimulations, interactive contents, pictures etc. It also enables teachers to prepare the unit plan of every chapter in addition to micro planning. KITE also developed a school management system namely Sampoorna. Sampoorna is useful for SSA and the Education Department of Government of Kerala to automate the system and processes for 11943 schools in the state. KITE is implementing the Hi-Tech school programme of the Education Department, by which 45000 classrooms in 4775 schools are being made Hi-Tech, for which KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure And Investment Fund Board- the apex body for monitoring all the projects envisaged by the Govt) has approved a funding of Rs.493.50 Crores. So far this project has covered 75% of the targeted 45000 classrooms in 4775 Govt and Govt aided schools in Kerala.

Bio-diversity Gardens

The goal of this activity is to provide students hands-on experiences to learn that Science is all around us and we can gain knowledge as well as solve many problems by relating the learning process to the physical and biological environment. Emphasising the importance of sustaining bio diversity the government has decided to set up biodiversity garden in schools all over Kerala. Students should be made aware that mutual coexistence is essential for sustaining diversity. Moreover ‘learning through experience from nature’ is one of the most important objective, of our curriculum. As per vision and approach of RAA, Science and Mathematics education should be done even beyond the four walls of the classrooms and in the entire school premises. One who enters into this campus should become a student and the resourceful camps may provide maximum knowledge and wisdom beyond the text. SSA has a number of projects for the above mentioned and one among the project is named as BIO DIVERSITY Garden. A Bio friendly environment is possible only when the bio diversity on earth is well nurtured. The flora and fauna on earth consists huge variety of species including human beings. This diversity makes life possible on earth. The young generation should realize the importance of diversity and its importance on earth. The study of Bio Diversity is very much close to the study of science and other subjects. SSA has to recreate the specimens of maximum possible species, that is rare species of animals trees and plants 2000 schools of the State were selected for the construction of Bio diversity gardens in the schools and has started the construction of Bio diversity gardens effectivel

Sasthrotsavam (Festival of Science)

The goal of this activity is to build up confidence among teachers to use inquiry based science teaching using science lab and Biodiversity Park so as to develop scientific outlook in students and show case their competence before the community members for initiating further enquiry and action. To equip the learners how to take up a learning project, to experience the role of science drama and science cinema in science learning and to equip them to design a tool for an experiment a Sasthrolsavam programme for UP students was conducted. Experiments, Science Quiz, Science Seminars, and Simple projects, etc were organized as a part of Sasthrolsavam. It enabled the leaners to create scientific temper in their minds.

Sasthra Prathibholsavam

(Festival of science genius) As a part of General Education Protection Mission, the Thiruvananthapuram district decided to conduct science camps and science tours for students of Std VII. Programmes such as 2 day science camp, district camp, science classes, performance of experiments, astronomy class and sky observation, a visit to Priyadarshini Science and Technology museum and innovation hub were were organised as part of this project.

Ganithatsavam (Festival of Maths)

There has been a positive change in the sphere of dealing with mathematical ideas and concepts in our life and in society. But students find solving mathematical problems a hard nut to crack. A large number of students lag behind in thinking mathematically and using it for analyzing practical problems. It is a fact that our classroom processes are not fully capable of promoting aptitude in mathematical learning. So it is so relevant to implement various activities to make mathematical learning as learner friendly, motivated and joyful experience for earners. For this SSA introduced a two days community camp in all primary schools known as Ganitholsavam, which will showcase the learning and thinking of students in Mathematics before their peers, teachers and parents and public. Ganitha Prathibholsavam SSA conducted Ganitha Prathibholsavam by identifying the talents of students in the subject Mathematics by designing projects, Workshops were conducted in mathematics in BRCs for the selected students of 6th & 7th standards. In the workshop, expert class, maths puzzles and maths quiz were conducted and certificates & trophies were given to students.

BALOLSAV

Right to Education Act recommends activities for classes from pre-school to higher secondary levels. So the relevance of pre-school activities is to be strengthened especially for pre-primary and Anganvadi children. The gathering and mela of pre-primary and Anganvadi children is one of the activities related to general Education Protection Campaign (Phothuvidyalaya Samrakshna Yajnam) This help us attract the children and the society to general schools. The gathering on Anganvadi and pre-primary children in LP school nearby will surely motivate the children and that will be an occasion to perform their poems, stories skits, action songs etc,. So learning enhancement programmes from Class 1 to VIII, focusing on school and class specific learning improvement, have to be coupled with RAA programmes which will provide more open areas of learning for students and professional development opportunities for teachers. This is the context in which Kerala places RAA in 2017-18.

Shaala Siddhi

The School Standards and Evaluation Framework (SSEF) or Shaala Siddhi is a comprehensive instrument for school evaluation developed by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA). SSA Kerala, after a series of workshops, academic deliberations and consultative meetings with NUEPA, has contextualised and translated the English version of Shaala Siddhi into Malayalam based on the needs and context of Kerala. Training had been given to Head teachers for using Shaala Siddhi for school evaluation and improvement. Elementary schools of the state have already started the process of using the document for self evaluation and school improvement. Kerala has to use the data of School evaluation and improvement for the preparation of AWP&B 2017-18. As the first step 1750 Govt schools have completed the process of school self evaluation during 2017.

School Twinning Programme

There are many good modals of academic excellence in various schools in Kerala. In order to get direct experience to the teachers and learners of other schools from these schools, SSA, Kerala conducted twinning programmes in various such schools of excellence. In the State 750 such School Twinning programmes were completed.

Venal Pacha

A handbook of biodiversity garden (Venal Pacha or Summer Green) was distributed to all students from Std. 1 to 8 in all schools. The book ‘Venal Pacha’ mainly focused on the activities for eco friendly atmosphere as well as plastic free campus. The workbook enabled students to read nature related stories, poems, articles and also to conduct projects, experiments and observations.

LEP

As Kerala has impressive achievements in a number of indicators, the States key challenges are in terms of attaining equity and quality in school education. SSA is committed to impart the quality of education so that the students at elementary level can perform at the grade appropriate level. The overarching goal of the Learning Enhancement Programme is to develop a high quality Language, Science, Social Science and Mathematics education programme for ensuring equity, inclusion, provision of learning resources, continuous assessment and child-centered instructional practices. For enhancing the quality of Language Learning SSA Kerala introduced Hello English Programme and Malayalathilakkam (Special Programme for mother tongue). Teachers Learning Circles a forum for networking and sharing resources among teachers was one of the innovative activities under LEP. The expenditure was Rs.719.99 lakhs in this year.

Malayalathilakkam:
The initiative Malayalathilakkam (Malayalam lustre) focuses on making children acquire basic skills in reading and writing in Malayalam. Based on the State Level Achievement Study, it has been found that in Lower Primary classes there are 5 to 10% of students who find it very difficult to read with comprehension and write well and convey meaning. Malayalathilakkam was an immersion programme intended to improve the basic literacy skills of the learners.

Hello English:
Hello English was an English Language Empowerment programme initiated by SSA, Kerala during 2017-2018. The project had two central objectives improving the teacher quality and enhancing the learners proficiency to use English. Five day teacher training programme under the project Hello English had been conducted in all 168 BRCs across the state. According to the study conducted by DIET Alappuzha, nearly 70% to 80% percentage of the teachers reported that the training Hello English was excellent in terms of content, activities, use of materials, confidence building, conducting games etc. The study also reported that the confidence level of learners has gone up and learners are enthusiastically taking part in learning activities. Teachers also started giving more opportunities to the learners in listening, speaking, reading, writing and performance. Several other measures were undertaken for the strengthening of teacher capacity and thereby enhancing quality in teaching and learning. (Self-learning, Masters Work books, Learning kits were supplied for enhancing the level of achievement of learners in science and mathematics as suggested by the PAB 2017-2018.)