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Background of Shikshamitra
Our schooling system of 10 – 12 years duration should be preparing most youths to choose a career or pursue a vocation, while a small percentage should be going for higher studies.
However, the present schooling system does not offer this. Instead it has a fixed, compulsory voluminous syllabus for all, irrespective of the individuals’ need and aptitudes. This results in elimination of a large number of students much before Class – X. needless to say the ‘majority pushed out’ are the poor – gaining little in these years and losing own survival skills in the bargain.
Therefore ….. there is an acute need for an alternative curriculum
pedagogy to redefine the concept and purpose of a school
Shikshamitra or Friends of Learning : started on 18th April – 2005 consists of a Learning Centre (the school) as well as an Education Resource Centre.
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The Learning Centre
The School:
Is a Bengali medium alternate secondary school
Remains open from 8am – 8pm, instead of standard 6 hours
Offers a Basic Syllabus (till Class-VIII) through different boards (state & central)
For Whom:
Initially for slum and lower middle class children of 9+ age group; subsequently for children from middle class background
For adults of the locality
For both part-time and full-time learners
Teaching – Learning Process
Focuses on assessing children’s abilities with emphasis on all aspects of learning – intellectual, physical, psychological and aesthetic
Includes self learning, cooperative or group learning, action learning using group activities and participatory methods
Uses theatre, audio-visuals, music, dance, physical activities, art & crafts as pedagogic tools
Offers integrated learning of languages, social studies and sciences
Has much broader social studies curriculum including Economics, Sociology, Politics, Governance, Development, Life Skill, etc.
Ecology Environment as one of the local themes in Science
Encourages students to be socio-politically aware and inculcate a democratic culture and behaviour
Provides psychological counseling services
Will provide a basic syllabus till Class – VIII complemented by specialized advanced courses in different subjects from Class – Vi
Will offer good pre-vocational education
Will provide career oriented counseling services
Will offer placement services, as apprenticeships and further studies by networking with vocational and higher learning centres.
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Current Status
Morning School : from 08.00am to 01.30pm
Total Strength : 24 children in the age group of 9yrs. to 16yrs.
Subjects Taught : Bengali, English, Art, Clay work, Crafts, Music, Dance, Theatre, Social Studies (History, Geography, and
Civics), Mathematics, Science, Environmental Studies, Health & Hygiene.
Extensive use of the library, study and observation of the locality and its surroundings
Evening School for Girls : 05.00pm – 07.00pm
(In collaboration with Development Research Communication and Service Centre)
Total Strength : 16 nos. in the age group of 14yrs to 20yrs.
Academic Status : Literate to Class-V
Subjects Taught :
Life Skills Vocational Skills
Language, Communication Embroidery
Maths & Accounts Jute Ornaments
Surveys, Information Cutting & Stitching
Data Representation, Health Doll Making
Visit to other NGOs Computer
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Education Resource Centre
This centre is a home to a good education library, documentation service, study research wing and publication division
Arrangements for meeting : seminar : workshops – training would be available
The services are targeted towards teachers, supervisors, researchers, educationists, media persons, government policy makers, NGOs and academicians
The ERC would provide links with other innovative teachers, schools, education NGOs, teachers’ associations, research bodies in the state, nationally and internationally.
It would also have close links with the municipality, state and central government departments, banks and judiciary departments
People visiting the ERC would be able to find out documents quite easily through computerized database.
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Contact Us
SHIKSHAMITRA : A SWANIRVAR PROJECT
62B, ALIPORE ROAD, KOLKATA – 700 027
PHONE: 91-33-2479-7291
EMAIL: shikshamitra.kolkata@gmail.com / shikshamitra@yahoo.co.in
School Timing : 08.30am – 01.30pm (Mon-Fri)
ERC Timing : 10.00am – 06.00pm (Mon-Sat)
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