 PRIMARY EDUCATION

Within the broad frame of Universalisation of Elementary Education WEE), significant emphasis is being given to issues and problems related to primary education. The efforts are geared towards the improvement of the quality of primary education by developing relevant resource materials, conducting training and undertaking research studies in important areas of concerns.

4 PRIMARY EDUCATION

Within the broad frame of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE), significant emphasis is being given to issues and problems related to primary education. The efforts are geared towards the improvement of the quality of primary education by developing relevant resource materials, conducting training and undertaking research studies in important areas of concerns.

National Documentation Unit (NDU) for MLL and ECE

Collection of information, its cataloguing and computer feeding is in process in the NDU for the Minimum Levels of Learning (MLLs) and the Early Childhood Education (ECE). An information brochure on the NDU is being developed. A quarterly newsletter Glimpses is being regularly brought out and widely disseminated.

Documentation of Innovative Programmes in Mathematics Teaching

The study sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, London was- carried out by a specially constituted group consisting of members from national and state level agencies and non-government organisations working in the areas of developing curriculum in Mathematics for school education and curriculum for Teacher Education in Mathematics at the primary level.

Journals

The Primary Teacher and Primary Shiksha are brought out quarterly. These journals provide a forum to the practising teachers for sharing of information on school experiences/ classroom activities and facilitate dissemination of new developments and research findings.

Evaluation of Primary Level Textbooks of NCERT

Linguistic and thematic analysis of NCERT's textbooks in English, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies for Class III was completed along with the tools for field work The project report is being prepared.

Experimental Programme in the KVS Primary Schools

The programmes on introduction of activity based teaching in primary grades has been undertaken in three Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) schools in Delhi. These schools located in the campuses of NCERT, JNU and IIT are to be developed as demonstration and experimental schools for research and training activities of the Department of Pre-School and Elementary Education of the NCERT. Monitoring and intervention programmes in these schools continued. These Vidyalayas have now become demonstration schools for providing on-site exposure to this methodology for trainees and delegates in the area of Primary Education.

Seminar on Reviewing and Priorities in Primary Level Curriculum

The seminar was organised at IIE, Pune in collaboration with the UNICEF. The seminar included panel discussion on three major areas; (i) comprehensive environmental education in which significance of health education and its integration by using active learning approach was discussed; (ii) developing communication skills in children, emphasis on the significance of nurturing both language and arts as modes of expression at the primary stage and its integration into curriculum; and (iii) contextual approach to mathematics curriculum at the primary stage. The seminar highlighted some current concerns in the area of Primary Education, particularly the need for a holistic and multi-level perspective. The seminar recommended that the NCERT should prepare a document on Primary Education which should dispel prevailing misconceptions regarding the MLL approach and provide directions. A core group meeting of experts was organised to discuss and arrive at a consensus regarding the format and major thrust of the document. The meeting was followed by a series of interactions with primary school teachers from the states of Haryana, Bihar and Delhi for seeking their views. Two workshops to identify and list common errors made by children in Language and Mathematics were conducted with a view to identifying problem areas in the curriculum. The feedback thus received is being used for preparation of a document on Primary Education.

Diploma Course in Elementary Education for Head Teachers in Primary Schools of Maldives

The course design including course outlines for the Diploma Course in Elementary Education for Head Teachers working in Primary Schools of Maldives was developed. This 15-month course is being organise the RIE, Mysore.

Case Studies an Multi-grade and Multi-level Teaching

The objectives of, this project include: (i) study of salient characteristic features of some innovative programmes in multi-level and multigrade teaching, (ii) evolving lessons for multi-grade as well as for monograde set-ups, and (iii) wider dissemination of experiences. The study was field-based using qualitative approaches through extensive case studies, observations and interview techniques. The salient characteristics of the project along with perceptions of teachers and children have been documented in the form of a report (two volumes).

A Critical Review of Researches in Elementary Education in the Context of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE)

The objectives of the study include: (i) documentation of the researches in the context of UEE during 1996-97, (ii) analysing findings of the study, (iii) identifying factors impeding UEE, and (iv) elaborating emerging trends. The data are being collected through correspondence and personal visits to various sources.

An Empirical Study of Grade Placement of Selected Concepts/Competencies at the Primary Level

The research design for this empirical study was finalised.

Monitoring of the Implementation of the Yashpal Committee Recommendations

Tools for the monitoring of implementation of the recommendations were developed and sent to the states. The status report has been prepared and is being updated from time to time.

Ujala: An Exhibition in the Context of UPE

An exhibition on Universalisation of Primary Education, called Ujala, was developed to mobilise individual and institutional initiatives. This is in the form of a series of 28 visuals in the size of 20" x 24". The visuals highlight issues related to drop-outs, girl child, role of teachers and joyful education. The exhibition was inaugurated at the IIE, Pune in December 1996.

Regional Level Inputs to, Primary Education

The RIE, Ajmer developed training packages for elementary stage on (i) Modalities of conducting Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) in Hindi, Mathematics and Environmental Studies including non-

scholastic areas of primary stage, (ii) Teaching of Social Studies at upper primary stage, (iii) Teaching of Science at upper primary stage, and (iv) Teaching of English at upper primary stage. An evaluation tool on selected MLL based competencies in Environmental Studies I was developed, field-tested and finalised.

The programmes for identification of primary teachers' training needs in Environmental Studies I and 11, Hindi (mother tongue), and Mathematics were undertaken for developing training packages and their field-testing.

The RIE, Bhopal is conducting research studies on (i) Experimentation and try-out of Multi-grade Teaching in the primary schools of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and (ii) Case study of DIETs of Gujarat: Structural and Functional Analysis and Evaluation. A study on the try-out of MLLs was also conducted.

The RIE, Bhubaneswar developed an MLL competency-based Test Item Pool (TIP) in Environmental Studies I and 11 for Classes III and IV. Learner-centred activities for First Language (Oriya) to achieve MLLs in Classes I and II have been designed in an implementable and sustainable form. A composite group of teachers and teacher educators was oriented with regard to importance of Physical Education and planning focus and structure of curriculum activities in Physical Education at the primary level.

The RIE, Mysore conducted Action Research Projects in Primary Education in the context of Universalisation of Elementary Education.

Reports and Other Materials Brought Out during 1996-97

1. Report on the Study of Readability of Textbooks (Classes II-V) of NCERT (typed)

2. Report of the Seminar on Reviewing Priorities in Primary Level Curriculum (xeroxed)

3. Innovations in Mathematics Teacher Education in India (typed/mimeographed)

4. Report on the Orientation in ECE of DPEP Project Directors (xeroxed)

5. Synthesis Report on Numeracy and Reading Readiness Levels of Class I Entrants (xeroxed)

6. List of Common Errors in Language and Mathematics made by Children at Primary Stage (compiled)

7. Exemplar Material of Textbook, Workbook and Teachers Handbook in Mathematics for Classes I and II (typed)

8. Tools for Field Training of Textbooks (typed)

9. Exhibits in the Context of Universalisation of Primary Education (photographs/ posters in the size of 20" x 24")