Best Practices
Best Practices I
Title : Rural Education Drive / Learn and Grow Program
Objective
The initiative aims to provide educational support and some basic life skill development for underprivileged children from nearby villages. The program targets school dropouts and children who lack access to quality education due to economic constraints. Guided by Madam Zinnatun Firdousi, SACT-I, Department of Education and a dedicated team of college students and teachers, the program strives to bridge the educational gap and foster holistic development. By conducting weekly classes at the college and occasional village visits, we seeks to inspire these children, improve their academic performance, and equip them with essential life skills, ultimately contributing to their personal and social growth.
Content
The program offers a structured curriculum focusing on basic education and essential life skills. The program runs thrice in a week at the college, accommodating around 50 children from nearby villages mostly from the villages of Dighi Colony, Nayabasti and Bherberi basti. The educational content covers fundamental subjects such as mathematics, science, language, and general knowledge, ensuring a well-rounded academic foundation. In addition to academic lessons, the program includes life skills training, such personal hygiene and health practices, basic communication skills, time management, environmental awareness etc. These sessions are designed to boost the children’s confidence and prepare them for future challenges. The curriculum is prepared to the needs of the children, ensuring it is engaging and relevant to their everyday lives. Her endeavors are also bolstered by the voluntary support of some students, who willingly lend a hand to help drive her projects forward. The involvement of college students in teaching not only increases the learning experience but also fosters a sense of community and social responsibility among the volunteers.
Practice
- The program is a comprehensive outreach program that operates with the collaborative effort of college students, teachers, and the local community. The sessions are well planned and executed under the guidance of Madam Zinnatun Firdousi and a team of volunteer teachers and students.
- The process begins with the college students preparing lesson plans and activities for the week. These plans are designed to be interactive and engaging, ensuring that the children remain interested and motivated. Upon arrival at the college, the children are welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment. Sometimes the college staff especially the Night Guard is requested to visit the nearby villages to persuade and bring the children in college.
- The children are asked to bring their all school books and copies. The school not-going children are provided some books and writing material by liberal teachers. The sessions start with basic education lessons covering core subjects, followed by interactive activities that revise the concepts taught.
- Life skill sessions are a crucial part of the program. These sessions address practical skills such as personal hygiene and health including proper hand washing techniques, brushing teeth, bathing and body cleanliness, importance of a balanced diet and nutrition, understanding common illnesses and basic first aid.
- Basic communication skills are taught like effective speaking and listening, expressing thoughts and emotions clearly, basic reading and writing skills, non-verbal communication covering basic body languages, gestures, and group chatting and hands-on activities are used to make these lessons impactful and memorable.
- Occasionally, the team visits nearby Schools, Madrasa and villages to conduct classes. These visits serve multiple purposes. They help in understanding the children's learning environment, living conditions, and develop stronger relationships with their teachers and parents, and ensure that even those who cannot attend the college classes regularly they will also benefit from the program.
- The practice also includes regular assessments to track the children's progress. Feedback from the children and their teachers and parents is collected to continuously improve the program. The involvement of college students not only provides valuable teaching resources but also promotes a culture of giving back to the community among the youth.
Evidence of Success
- The success of this program is can be traced in improvements in the children's academic performance and personal development. Regular assessments show significant progress in their improvement of core subjects. Many children who were initially reluctant to participate have become enthusiastic learners, demonstrating increased confidence and curiosity.
- The program's impact extends beyond academics. Parents and community members have reported positive changes in the children's behavior and social skills. For instance, children have become more disciplined, exhibit better hygiene practices, and engage more positively with their parents and elders.
- Testimonials from parents highlight the transformative effect of the program. One parent from Nayabasty mentioned, "My child has become more confident and now helps his siblings with their studies." Such feedback underscores the program's success in not only educating but also empowering the children.
- The college students involved in the program also reflect on the personal growth they experience through their participation. They report enhanced teaching skills, a deeper understanding of social issues, and a strong sense of fulfillment from contributing to the community.
Problems Encountered and Resources
Despite its successes, we face several challenges in continuing this program. One major issue is the irregular attendance of children due to familial obligations or economic activities. The adjacent villages are very much remote in the sense of backwardness in economic and educational reach. Many times children are seen doing household chores, gathering fire woods and collecting fodders for cattle during school time. Sometimes college staff has to visit village to gather the children with sweets. To address this, the team conducts awareness sessions and follow-up visits and engages with parents to emphasize the importance of regular attendance.
Another challenge is the limited resources available for the program. While the college provides basic facilities like classroom, desk benches and electricity, there is often a shortage of educational materials and supplies. Hence, the program has been relying on the liberal contributions made by teachers.
In conclusion, the program initiative demonstrates that with dedicated effort and community support, it is possible to make a significant difference in the lives of underprivileged children. The program continues to adapt and overcome the challenges with the collective commitment of all teachers, staff and students.
Best Practices II
Title : Tree Plantation & Environmental Awareness
Objective
A. To make the students as well as the local people aware of their surroundings and the environment they live in.
B. To accustom the students and the commons with crucial environmental problems like deforestation, environmental degradation, pollution, Global-warming, biodiversity loss etc.
C. To spread a sense of awareness amongst the students towards environmental protection and to make them eligible so that they can multiply it further.
D. To construct modern infrastructure for teaching and learning whilst conserving the ecosystem and inculcate the sense of ecological conservation amongst students.
The Context
Protection of environment is a vital issue of the present era and the institution pays a great attention to this imperative issue. The college authority has undertaken tree plantation programmes at regular intervals to add to the environment and also comes with an intricate plan every year for tree plantation in and outside the campus to maintain the ecological balance which also in the need promotes greenery. As majority of the students are from rural background so these types of steps would make them a responsible and proactive citizen and better human being.
The Practice
- Fruit bearing trees and various medicinal plants planted during such awareness drives proves to be very fruitful because they provide the college community with seasonal fruits as well as medicinal benefits.
- The trees planted by the college authority provide shade as well as adds to its beauty.
- The NSS plays an important role in regularly watering and tending the plants along with the college staffs.
- The NSS unit of the college celebrates a week long “Forest Week”, in the month of July.
- Active participation in various social outreach activities through NCC and NSS.
Evidence of Success
- Admission of the students from the remotest locations.
- We have succeeded in making the campus green by promoting greenery all around.
- Our campus is a huge resource of oxygen, as the greenery within reduces carbon-dioxide.
- We have succeeded to a great extent in making the campus plastic free.
- We try to keep our campus clean by colleting the garbage in a regular basis and systematically disposing it.
- The medicinal and herbal garden plays a vital role in educating the students about the rich heritage and uses of Ayurveda.
- The greenery of the campus has added to the soothing effect of the eyes, making it a beautiful and relaxing studying environment. It has helped to a huge extent in promoting education.
Problems Encountered and resources required
- We are trying to build an environmentally sustainable culture in our institution so that in the near future most of the jobs will be done spontaneously and no command will be required.
- Due to lack of boundary walls on all sides sometimes grazing animals enter the campus and destroy the plantations.
- We need to employ an expert gardener that needs a certain amount of financial investment that the college is trying to make in spite of financial constraints.
Notes (Optional): The college attempts to keep all necessary measures for beautifying the campus and evergreen and eco-friendly one. It will take all measures to make it a reality.