Thursday, March 7, 2013

Samskara Shikshana - The Journey of Value Education


Today, I visited two government schools one at Ittamadu and another at Pantara Palya with Rashrothana Prathisthan coordinator Bharathi. Bharathi is teaching Samskara Shikshana (Culture, Value and Education) to the kids at various government schools. She emphasis teaching on the slokas (verses), vachanas, patriotic and devotional songs apart from these she also teaches them how to behave with various stakeholders, learning from Bhagvad Geeta. She trains them on life skills. Now a days survival has become so difficult and thus parents tend to only focus on earning for their livelihood, especially people who are surviving on the daily wages. The life style which they are forced to follow lead to have an impact on the kids as well. Considering this atmosphere, Samskara Shikshana is helping these kids to behave and act responsibly in different circumstances they come up in life. I was surprised because I never thought anyone would take up such initiative to teach the very basic values of life which actually to be taught by parents. I mean why would someone bother about others kids to teach all this when most of us would not even have bothered and ignored saying it's parents responsibility and would have left. I really appreciate the institutions which are making efforts in retaining the culture of India and also taking care of the neighbor ensuring a better life with values which can help mold as a better citizen of the nation. We had delicious lunch too at Mrs. Kamakshi's residence who is a teacher at one of the Seva Kirana. People don't find time for their own family and in such times, it was very delighting to have invited us to their home even though they had not known us. They said we are one family as we are a part of one institute. It was very humble of the lady to have taken her time and arranged the lunch.

Coming to the need assessment part of the day. Ittamadu school has around 10 computers which are given by America India Foundation (AIF) and all are working. At the beginning AIF appointed computer teacher from their end and taught for a year and now that they have completely disconnected. The Principal says that there is requirement of volunteers who can teach Computers and English. They will be delighted if the volunteer would come on weekdays but then weekend also is fine. As of now computers is taught by the teachers who take other subjects and they find it difficult to handle both the classes and also they know very little. Coming to the Spoken English, the Principal says the kids are good at reading and writing but then they do not know to speak at all. They have the need of a volunteer who can teach them English as well. Most of the kids go to their village for holidays and parents not supportive to send kids for the summer camp. The school comprise of class 1 to 8th standard.

At Pantara Palya school, they too have 10 computers given by AIF out of which 8 are working. They are in need of volunteers who can teach Spoken English and computers. The situation is a mirror effect of the situation at Ittamadu school mentioned above in all sense. 

I also visited 3 Seva Kirana's with Ganeshji at Chunchungatte. The classes are running on a regular basis. They too conduct summer camp and have regular fun activities conducted at the center.

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