English tools for government schools

In an apparent move to counter the fierce competition from English medium schools with other syllabi, the state govt is modifying its syllabus with better tools for helping students grasp English language at the lower primary level.

In a novel initiative, the State Council of Educational and Research and Training (SCERT) is coming out with an interactive DVD with animation films, digital versions of the textbooks and interactive activities for happy learning for students of classes I and  II.

This would  benefit nearly eight lakh students in the 11,000 schools and 200 multigrade learning centres (MGLCs) in the state.

“This attempt is to change the general perception that the students of  government schools are weak in communication,” SCERT director K A Hashim told Express. The government schools had started English language lessons in  class I in 2008.

The DVD with three levels such as an entry video, digital text and activities aims to make the students learn the language in a natural way. The materials which promote imagination and creativity are locally developed and culture-specific in tune with the curriculum objectives. “It is part of a whole-level approach and would not have any material alien to the culture of children of the state,” said K T Dinesh, research officer, SCERT, who conceptualised and coordinated the project.

There are seven units for class I, and five for class II in the DVD.

A team of 15 teachers across the state prepared the screenplay and story board with the technical support of the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology.

The SCERT director said that the endeavour costs around `25 lakh. A three-day training camp would be held after the Onam holidays for nearly 20,000 teachers to help  them handle the DVD in an effective manner.

The DVD will be released in the week before Onam at a function in Thiruvananthapuram.