Background: The initiative called ‘Vedh Project’, a student-centered instructional strategy in the Nandurbar taluka in Maharashtra, has resulted in bridging the gap in learning outcomes.
About the Vedh Project
- It is based on the novel concept of heutagogy, a student-centered instructional strategy.
- Earlier situation:
- Pandemic situation had hampered the learning process, increasing the gaps.
- General laxity had contributed to poor Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) among students.
- Remote learning opportunities through internet media, only contributed partially
- The Vedh project:
- Here, teachers are facilitators, who set challenges for students and encourage them to learn their curricula by developing innovative methods on their own, in the form of group activities.
- Baseline assessment conducted by NGO Pratham helped teachers identify where their class stood.
- The goal of the project was to create a student peer group and then handhold them as they interact with each other as part of their learning process.
- Evaluation process was introduced rather than tests, to reduce pressure on teachers.
- Remedial classes were arranged for students, with learning gaps.
- Outcomes of the initiative:
- Learning outcomes of students under various parameters increased.
- As against the curriculum based teaching, teachers developed their own creative ways of teaching.
- On the whole, the initiative is an example of how good governance policy, productive innovation and implementation can have an impact on learning outcome.
