‘Chalk Walk 2015 campaign’: 7000 teachers across India collectively takes oath to improve learning outcomes of children | BCR NEWS

‘Chalk Walk 2015 campaign’: 7000 teachers across India collectively takes oath to improve learning outcomes of children  

BCR NEWS (New Delhi): To mark the occasion of World’s Teachers Day, STIR Education celebrated culmination of its unique Chalk Walk 2015 Campaign in Delhi at the India International Centre (IIC). The event was attended by hundreds of teachers, principals, government officials, eminent educationists and other reputed NGOs. During the event, STIR Education shared outcome of the month-long campaign and felicitated the most innovative teachers across the schools of Delhi.

These teachers from across India have taken a pledge to take on the learning crisis head on by doing what they do best – teaching.

STIR Education initiated a month long teacher-led campaign, Chalk Walk where more than 7000 teachers across India came forward to participate in the celebration and shout out that they are indeed the key to solve the problem in Indian education sector. These teachers are part over 200 teacher changemaker networks. Teachers in the network strive towards using innovative methods to tackle barriers of learning for the most underprivileged children of this country.

Today like many nations in the world, India is also committed to provide quality education to all the children. Right to Education Act and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan has done decently in ensuring access to schools to millions of children as well as committing free education to them. In spite of all the endeavors, learning outcomes for these children are still quite appalling. According to leading NGO Pratham approximately 42% children in 5th standard cannot read standard two text and approx 75% children in 5th standard cannot do basic division. This is also stated, by many as ‘Learning Crisis’.

Expressing happiness on success of Chalk Walk and the way forward, Sharath Jeevan, Founder & CEO, STIR Education, said, “Chalk walk 2015 has sent a strong message to the teaching community that they are the key to bring quality education to India’s poorest children. STIR education is committed to work in partnership with the government to strengthen existing structures of CRC, BEO to establish a new deal for teacher capacity building. By chalk-walk 2016 we would start seeing the glimpse of it. Next April 6000 plus teachers in the movement in UP,  Bihar and Delhi would take on classroom culture and practice challenge where in the teachers would integrate evidence based principles in their teaching “

The Government of India is serious about addressing this issue and hence, has adopted this as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). STIR education strives to work with Government to build structures which enables teachers bring change. Currently it works with SDMC, Department of Education Delhi and SCERT Uttar Pradesh to embed its teacher changemaker approach within the government system. STIR is doing similar work in Uganda, Africa as well.

Praising the Chalk WALK initiative, Deepika Chhabra, MCD, Shekh Sarai, said, “The campaign emphasizes primarily on us, the teachers – our contribution, hardwork and commitment to the society at large. Hence, it is a promising platform to motivate us to do better for our students.”

In the coming year all teachers in the network would work towards improving learning by taking on Classroom practice improvement challenge. During this challenge teachers would adopt research backed global practices and integrate the same in their classrooms. For example it is well know that if you have text rich classrooms children start reading faster and every teacher with limited resources can integrate this knowledge into their teaching.

Shama Parveen, Sainath Public School, Delhi, commented, “The seven reading principles are a simple yet comprehensive tool to improve reading in our classrooms. My competence to assess our children’s ability to read has increased, and children also have taken more interest since I have made reading as an activity more meaningful by focusing on ‘understanding of text’ rather than rote learning.”

About STIR Education

STIR education , is working in India and Uganda to create a Teacher Changemaker Movement and aims to build teacher networks across India with an aim to bring  teaching community at the forefront of solving learning crisis .

STIR Education is an NGO which has developed a unique Changemaker Program which aims at improving education quality for the world’s poorest children.

STIR was founded by Sharath Jeevan, founding CEO of teaching leaders, an initiative that raised attainment in the UK’s most disadvantaged schools.

STIR India Advisory board is chaired by Ashish Dhawan, Founder of the Central Square Foundation, and includes leaders in organizations such as Bharti Foundation, Pratham, Akanksha foundation, JPAL and Azim Premji Foundation among others.