CRASH COURSE - PRIMARY EDUCATION

Srividhya Subramanian, IIMA – Ashwamedha2009

Quick Summary: . Volunteers teach at schools whenever free by imparting intensive crash-course style education on subjects of expertise. Permanent teachers run the school and teach multiple subjects in a home-tuition style through the year.

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STEP1: BUILD AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE REPOSITORYComponents of the site showcased in this slide. Volunteers would register using the site and choose the duration, place of work and the subject that they would like to teach.

List of all the centres where we would like to to impart quality educationList of the subjects (sciences, arts etc) that one could teach

A calendar for each centre-subject combination. A teacher can book a period of 2 months or more during when she would teach the kids

A login section for a volunteer with personal qualification, prior teaching records, teaching material, syllabus etc

AT THE SCHOOL – PERMANENT TEACHERS

A no frill school, with basic low cost infrastructure.

The number of permanent teachers at any point of time would be at minimum – These would be paid educated locals(preferably) from the area who would keep a track of syllabus covered and would serve as teachers for varied subjects* and be mentors

The regular classes would be conducted like in a tuition, with mostly revising concepts taught at the crash course or to wrap up pending syllabus

* Multiple subjects can be taught as the subject content for primary education is within the grasp of those who can even

remotely qualify as educated

HOW THE CRASH COURSE SYSTEM WORKS: RESOURCES TO TARGET – THOSE WHO HAVE SUBJECT MATTER TO TEACH AND 2 MONTHS+ TO SPARE

*would be aided by the permanent teacher incase of language barriers

Retired people who can afford to spend a good 2 months+ at a school

Students having their breaks for 2 months or so in between 2 consecutive academic years

People aiming to take a sabbatical from work

The Unemployed and educated who wish to use their time resourcefully

Interns from abroad* who would like to teach students in India and experience the culture here

WHY WOULD VOLUNTEERS BE ATTRACTED TO REGISTER?

WHAT AFTER ONE REGISTERS ?

We have interested people Two reasons why many

interested don’t teach at government or rural schools: do not have the

necessary BEd or equivalent degree

Can’t afford the time demands of a full time job

Not monetarily lucrative so not a career option

This system mainly caters to the above constraints and provides for many potential teacher-volunteers

Could attend a basic 2 day workshop to gain the necessary training to teach

Can engage in creative modes of teaching at school. Target to cover a syllabus for ~6 months in the 2 months they are volunteering

The permanent teachers then aid the students in revising the subjects and in finishing off the pending syllabus in case of unavailability of volunteers in the later part of the year.

VOLUNTEER DISTRIBUTION ACROSS CENTRESThe option for volunteers to teach varied subjects (arts/science) ensures all round development of students.Those who would not want to relocate to volunteer have the option to choose locations of interest – added incentive to teachA centre could stop accepting volunteers for a particular time frame if the number of teachers and number of subjects reaches a threshold so as to not make the course very vigorousThe threshold levels might be adjusted to stop accepting volunteers to redirect them to other less catered to locationsWith increasing volunteers, the intensive nature of these crash courses would dilute to distribute load evenly across the yearThe aim : Have a 1 month work load covered in a month with sufficient number of volunteers spread across 12 months for a good mix of subjects that ensure holistic development of students

MAJOR EXPENDITUREDefinite costs Web site creation and maintenance (resource pool

maintenance and tracking) Salaries for the permanent teachers Basic infrastructure and other teaching aid (books

etc.) requirements

Optional costs but worth consideration A nominal stipend for students/unemployed to

incentivize volunteers for increased participation (which could be introduced with increase in funds)

Funds for a mid-day meal scheme, if need be, to incentivize students to attend schools

REVENUE SOURCES – IDEAS Advertisement revenue on the site Funds and support from NGOs, individuals and the

government<<Ideally all volunteers would be accommodated in a

local’s home as a paying guest with nominal fee>> Acceptance of a premium from those who would want

more facilities provided during their tenure at the school

Acceptance of a premium service fee from volunteers from other nationalities who might want accommodation etc. arranged

These crash courses (majorly in arts and sports) could also serve as summer camps for many children from well to do families who can then pay a summer camp fee

The art models, paintings, etc created during the camps could then be auctioned on the site (like a charity auction) to direct the money generated to provide better facilities for students and to accommodate more permanent teachers

THANK YOU !

Nation wide applicability yes

Low price yes

Profitable? High potential

Affordable ? Yes

Originality yes