DPEP Kera(A a Retrospect Mlillllld12796
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DPEP Kera(a A Retrospect NIEPA DC MlilllllD12796 DISTRICT PRIMARY EDUCATION PROGRAMME (DPEP), KERALA 1994-2003 I Sri. K. Sureshkumar, I.A.S 30-03-1995 to 23-07-1998 Sri. K. Jayakumar, I.A.S (in full additional charge) 23-07-1998 to 20-10-19S3 Sri. Edwin Khulbushan Majhi, I.A.S 20-10-1998 to 22-11-1999 Sri. P.H. Kurian. I.A'.S 22-11 -1999 to 20-05-2001 Sri. V.P. Joy, I.A.S (in full additional charge) 21-05-2001 to 17-06-2001 Sri. P. Arjunan, I.A.S 18-06-2001 to 10-06-2002 Sri. S. Sukumaran, I.A.S 10-06-2002 to 30-06-2003 ’ ^ C l t u ' t 'if Kd JC*1 iui>< r 1 i^Ukumj .m*' w.-I:. U> * *1. I t7-B. S* t *> ■ ise. “Z?j education I mean an alround drawing out of the best in child and man- body, mind and spirit”. Mahatma Gandhi A.K.ANTONY CHIEF MINISTER, KERALA MESSAGE lam happy to know that the State Project Directorate of DPEP, Kerala has prepared a State level documentation of all activities undertaken during the project period. I hope that the outcomes of the project may be beneficial for the general public and the educational community. I Wish all success to this venture A.K. ANTONY OFFICE : 327560 327130 PHONE ■] 518610 RES : 328214 329317 minister-education @ kerala.gov. in NALAKATHU SOOPPY THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MINISTER FOR EDUCATION 30-06-2003 MESSAGE DPEP project came to a close by 30,h June 2003. A state level documentation report prepared by the State Project Directorate of DPEP Kerala is appreciable. The beneficial outcomes of the project may be sustained in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. I wish all success to this attempt. ADV. NALAKATH SOOPPY P. MARA PANDIYAN, IAS Secretary to Government /President PEDSK General Education Department, Govt, of Kerala MESSAGE The Centrally sponsored DPEP project aimed at universalization of Primary and quality education in a mission mode. The DPEP Project has come to an end on 30th of June 2003. I am happy to know that a comprehensive report has been prepared by the State Project Directorate to show the achievements during the period from 1994 to 2003. I wish all success to this endeavour. P. MARA PANDIYAN, IAS Foreword District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) came to a close by 30th of June 2003 leaving lasting imprints in the education scenario of Kerala with hectic activities touching almost all areas of primary education. The DPEP had been implemented in six out of the 14 districts of Kerala; the first phase introduced in three districts viz. Kasargod, Wayanad and Malappuram in 1994 and the second phase in the remaining three districts of Palakkad, Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram in the year 1997. The DPEP was a Centrally sponsored programme which aimed at comprehensive development of primary education in the State. It may be recalled that no topic has been so hotly and widely discussed as of DPEP in the recent past of the State. Notwithstanding criticisms and oppositions, DPEP interventions both in horizontal and vertical dimensions yielded results in a number of directions. The serious debates that Kerala witnessed on the new pedagogic and curricular initiatives of DPEP can be seen as ample testimony to their overall impact. Terms such as ‘experientialpedagogy’ and ‘activity-based classroom' have gained currency among teachers, parents and educationists genuinely concerned for the child. Despite criticisms by certain self serving educationists, turning back of a small section of teachers who were reluctant to deviate from the age-old teaching methods, the orchestrated propaganda hype created by publishers of school guides and other vested interests, lack of unified syllabus and blind political opposition, DPEP Kerala made definite forward strides and clearly have raised the level ofprofessional discourse in the area. The profile of our primary classroom has changed radically from what it had been a decade ago. The new pedagogic initiatives have kindled the intrinsic inquisitiveness in children, helped them in waking up their thought faculty and helped self-learning, helped them to compare and evaluate matters and materials, helped to find openings for their creative urges, helped them to observe and love nature, and above all made them capable of interacting freely with teachers, peer group and even to strangers. The new curriculum and text books made it necessary to reassess the learning process in the classroom. Teacher’s knowledge base about the children and how they learn, his/her strength and weakness for arranging the learning experiences including a substantially changed attitude towards children provided the main inputs for this change. The training programmes were designed to equip teachers to transform the classroom to one where the child is no longer a passive recipiemt, but a thinker and a doer; actively involved in the learning process, mentally as well as physically. In adhering to the widely accepted learning steps of acquiring knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation related to students, the teacher had to shift her own role from that of an authoritarian expositor to that of a friend, facilitator and guide. The teachers realised that the objectives of visualising the potentialities embedded in the problem does not come easily if we expect knowledge always to come in packed forms from external sources. Every problem can also be seen as a minefield of solutions. DPEP has presented many such challenges. Many ordinary teachers have made improvisations, conducted action researches and have already done• a lot of valuable mining. Micro level studies have revealed that there were still children in Kerala who have not seen the door of school in life in certain remote areas especially in tribal and coastal regions. DPEP endeavored to provide access for all children according to national norms. Its efforts were fructified in retention of these children and mainstreaming them in formal school. The National Policy on Education envisions education as an effective tool of women’s equality and empowerment. DPEP, Kerala had taken up sensitisation programme for elimination of gender bias. Though Kerala is highly placed in girls’ education and women’s literacy compared to other parts of India, it still leave scope for attainment and equality with male literacy and boys ’ education. Retention of girls in higher classes was still a problem and DPEP made multi-pronged efforts in this area. Awareness creation for community, introduction of volunteers in tribal and coastal belts for persuing parents for enrollment and retention of girl children, incentives for girls, sensitisation packages and module development for teacher training programme were some of the actions resorted to in this direction. Early Childhood Care and Education, caring and efforts for mainstreaming children with special needs were also areas where concerted efforts made by DPEP. Strengthening of institutions and development of infrastructure for our primary schools was foremost among many visible contributions of DPEP. Civil Works carried out could give a face-lift to the state’s primary schools which hitherto remained in a dilapidated condition. New school buildings, replacement of thatched sheds, additional class rooms, separation walls for classrooms, compound walls for schools, provision for drinking water, toilet facilities, electrification etc. have made an ocean of difference in the school environment. Development activities in this area had been done without leakage of fund and with utmost transparency in expenditure and execution. The increased public participation and community mobilistaion in this area could generate invaluable assets by way of manpower and local resources that add up to the DPEP spending. Institutional development like construction of Block Resource Centres, Cluster Resource Centres, Activity Centres, Pedagogy Parks, Multi Grade Learning Centres merit mention as lasting contributions by DPEP. Linkages with various institutions and convergence activities have resulted immense resource mobilization in almost all areas related to primary education. DPEP could develop a sense of belonging towards school among the community, sowing the seed in them that the ultimate ownership of school is with the community. Departments like Health, Forest, Local Self Government, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Ed.CIL, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) have extended tremendous help in the activities of DPEP, Kerala. The print, electronic materials and the interactive website and teleconferencing infrastructure developed by Distance Education and Media Units merit mention in this context. Undoubtedly the achievement so far made is not one to be rubbished off by any one. Given everything said and done, what remains to do is enormous, considering the vastness of the problem. DPEP has become part of history by June 2003. It is time to look at the half-full glass; even if the water is a bit muddy. Let us aspire for its fulfillment in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). S. Sukumaran, IAS State Project Director CONTENTS Page Nos. State Profile..................................................................................... 15-24 DPEP At A Glance.........................................................................25-28 Alternative Schooling.....................................................................29-66 Civil Works.......................................................................................67-92 Community Mobilisation............................................................. 93-120 Distance Education Programme...............................................121-136