Distance Education to provide quality education for tribal children

Tribal children residing in the forests are deprived of quality education, with Government schools bordering these forests are not equipped to provide quality education, due to inadequate manpower and resources.

To offset this imbalance, the District Administration has decided to provide distance education to tribal children studying in schools where innovative teaching methods are unheard of.

Twelve schools have been selected for this pilot project which comprises six schools from HD Kote, two schools each from Hunsur, Periyapatna and Nanjangud. The major tribal communities that will be benefited by this direct broadcast are the Jennu Kurubas, Betta Kurubas, Erava and Eruliga communities amongst others.

The programme will be aired in two formats. In one, pre-recorded lessons on selected topics will be aired. In the other arrangements have been made for a two way live video conference, where children can interact directly with the teachers and clarify their doubts by asking questions, and the local school teacher monitor the programme.

If everything goes as per the plan, by next academic year the programmes will be launched in district. The intention of the programme is to attract more children to come to schools while at the same time ensure they are not missed out on getting quality education.

Plans are on to introduce lessons based on history of tribes and five lessons have been drafted. Plans are also there for direct broadcast of educational programmes through Chandana channel daily for two hours.

In due course several other innovative methods will be adopted to attract more tribal children to class rooms, said sources.

Required infrastructure facilities will be provided to these schools for the effective implementation of the programme, which will be funded under the DC's Social innovative fund. For the effective implementation of the programme, a committee will be constituted involving officials from the DDPI, NGO, ZP, which will be Chaired by the DC.

Hunsur-based NGO DEED (Development through Education) Director S Srikanth said that “manned with two teachers in several school, one teaches for all the classes and other goes on leave. With midday meals programme the teachers have less time to concentrate more on teaching. Added to this is the absenteeism, as tribal children find various excuses to drop out of schools midway. With distant learning, the classes will be made interesting for children”.