Rotarys Total Literacy Mission through the TEACH Program

Rotary’s Total Literacy Mission through the T-E-A-C-H Program Total Literacy & Better Education

Rotary’s Total Literacy Mission Definition of Literacy Functional Skills to READ, WRITE & COUNT Age of children to be covered 6 – 14 years (Primary Education)

ROTARY T-E-A-C-H PROGRAM T - Teacher Support E - E-learning A - Adult Literacy C - Child Development H - Happy Schools

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support ISSUES OBSERVED • Teacher vacancies not filled • Huge teacher absenteeism • Poor quality of teachers

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support THE WAY FORWARD -> Work at the Revenue District Level & multiply the efforts at all revenue districts and thereby cover the States & entire Nation.

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER VACANCY Action points: • Find out how many and where are vacancies • Clubs in a particular Revenue District must approach District Education Board (Zilla Sikshan Samiti) within each District Panchayat for the relevant data on Teacher Vacancy. • Trained Volunteers as teachers • Clubs should enter into a written agreement with the District Panchayat for employing Para-Teachers (Volunteers) who shall teach at vacant positions.

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER VACANCY Action points: • Minimum qualification of a Para-Teacher must be Graduation. • Enter into contractual employment of such unemployed youth, retired teachers, program beneficiaries, etc. • Rotary shall have to bear the salary of each such Para- Teacher to the tune of Rs. 5000 per month. • Evaluation test to be conducted for Para-Teachers before being contracted.

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER VACANCY Current Scenario in Primary Education (Std. I to Std. VIII): Good News • Recruitment of well qualified (M. Sc. B. Ed. ; MA B. Ed. ; Ph. D) candidates in Govt. schools through State-level Open Merit computerized system which is highly foolproof. • Merit also includes min. 60% marks in O. M. R. based Teachers Eligibility Test (TET), which is compulsory. • Merit is derived through a 45/55 ratio. • Appointment for 5 years at a fixed salary of Rs. 5300/- per month. • Permanent employment granted thereafter at a basic salary of Rs. 20 -22, 000/- per month. Other emoluments like D. A. , HRA, Medical allowance extra. • Scale as per 6 th Pay Commission. • Enrolment & Transfer ‘Melas’ are held regularly.

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER VACANCY Current Scenario in Primary Education (Std. I to Std. VIII): On the Flip side • No pension for teachers employed after 2005. • Transfers as per choice of the teachers. This results in lack of teachers in schools in backward / tribal areas where they are actually in great need. • Backward / tribal talukas have, over the years, shown lesser literacy rates compared to semi- urban & urban talukas. • Certain schools present higher figures of student to the Education dept. with an aim to retain an extra teacher usually in connivance with such a teacher. • Overall scenario may present no teacher vacancy BUT internal vacancies do exist.

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER ABSENTEEISM ACTION POINTS: • In case of rural schools approach the ‘Sarpanch’ (Village Head) and involve him/her to form a village level committee of like-minded leaders which helps in motivating teachers and parents by highlighting the value and importance of education. • Appoint registered Volunteers (Rotarians, Rotaractors, spouses of Rotarians) in such committees for continuous & systematic monitoring and mentoring. • Evaluate the prevalent Teacher recognition & award system as well as parameters followed by the state governments wherein your Rotary district exists. • Follow it up with your feedback to the Teacher Support Committee to help devise one such motivating Recognition & Awards system at Rotary District & National levels. (Awarding system may include standardized evaluation methods, cash prizes & recognition on our websites. )

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER ABSENTEEISM Current Scenario in Govt. Primary Schools: Good News • The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) = 85% Teacher Attendance • Teachers get only 12 CL (Casual Leave) in a year and hence are bound to remain regular in attendance. • New recruitments of well qualified teachers armed with good computer teaching skills. • State & National level recognition & award system for outstanding teachers very well devised & ingrained. • Awardees are honored, at the National level, each with a shawl, citation, gold/silver medallion, cash award of Rs. 25, 000/-, free S. T. & Railway pass renewable every year by the D. E. O. apart from free to & fro travel to the award ceremony on 5 th September, each year.

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER ABSENTEEISM Current Scenario in Govt. Primary Schools: On the Flip side • ASER Report = Student Attendance has declined from 73. 1% to 71. 8% in 2013. • A literacy study was conducted in the states of Bihar, MP, Rajasthan and UP as sample states in 1996 and again a revisited study in 2006. A major finding reflected in this 10 year period no teacher activity during surprise visits. • Out of a yearly total of 240 days of teaching period, actual teaching inter-face of teachers and students happens only for about 125 days, approx. 50% of what is desirable, due to various other activities, duties and assignments given to the teachers as also considering leave taken by the students.

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER QUALITY ACTION POINTS: • Approach District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) to understand its objectives & training modules. • Further explore the possibility of a tie-up through an Advocacy panel, set up locally by Rotary clubs. • Devise a Model Training Module, based on a scientific approach, in conjunction with the local DIET. • This Training Module should be utilized for periodic evaluation and appraisal of teachers / Para-teachers as well as for advanced training. • These modules, then, would be made available online.

Rotary’s “T-E-A-C-H” Programme T Teacher Support TEACHER QUALITY Objectives of District Institute of Education & Training (DIET): To provide academic and resource support at the grass roots level for the success of the various strategies and programmes being undertaken in the areas of elementary and adult education. The sole purpose of DIET is to conduct different kinds of training programmes to improve the quality of basic education and create a desirable environment within the district with regards to enroll more and more children of school going age and pave the way for retention of those who are admitted in the school and to ensure the high literacy percentage of male and female as a whole.

Rotary’s Total Literacy Mission ROTARY’S VISION Towards a “Literate India” Advocacy for Literacy by developing partnership with Govt. / other NGOs Harness Information Technology Adopt Schools Strive to Improve Quality of Education Make Education inclusive by bringing marginalized sections/ children at risk to the mainstream

Work in progress… YOU have a role to play • People's revolution. • Rotarians & their families will have to lead from the front. • Volunteer for the “T-E-A-C-H” programme, Raise funds, Organizational work, Programme implementation, Teaching, Training etc. • Get the public involved too. Your friends, relatives all can be meaningfully involved.

Work in progress… YOU have a role to play GET SET ON THIS LEARNING CURVE AND COME BACK TO WITH YOUR FEEDBACK WITHIN SET DEADLINES All the Best !!! PDG Devang. Thakore R I District 3060 thakore_devang@yahoo. co. in +91 98241 83994