By Mary | Chief Functionary
Prajayatna has recently initiated work in Yelahanka area of Bangalore Urban District. This Block or Taluk consists of 678 anganwadis which are government run preschools for children in the age group of 3 to 6 years of age. These centres cater to almost 24,000 children. Here the focus is on 50 Centres catering to 1250 children.
Through multiple interventions Prajayatna engages with different stakeholders – mainly the local communities, the Gram / Ward Panchayats, Block Panchayats, Bal Vikas Samitihis (Parents Committees in the anganwadis), Anganwadi teachers, Supervisors and officials from the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD – Department responsible for the care of children and therefore the anganwadis). These interventions will ensure that various issues of the anganwadis in Yelahanaka Block are addressed thereby enabling all children to have access to quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and a chance for a better life in future.
Towards addressing larger systemic issues, Prajayatna’s key focus has been on the development of capabilities of community based structures/ institutions and functionaries; and with this intention training workshops were planned for Parents Committee members, Anganwadi Teachers and Supervisors in order to help them to perform their roles and responsibilties better and ensure that there is quality ECCE.
As a part of this project, Prajayatna had planned to organize a total of ten trainings in a year for teachers/ Supervisors and Parents Committee members from fifty select anganwadis in Yelahanka block.
Prior to the initiation of these trainings Prajayatna has conducted a few basic pre-processes to ensure appropriate support and participation in the trainings. Initially a meeting was organized with the Department of Women and Child to share the annual plan and to facilitate support from responsible officials. Post this, village and ward level meetings were organized in the working areas to create understanding and to elicit support of community members for our initiatives on anganwadi development.
In the first quarter of this year (June to August) a total of 3 trainings have been conducted for all 50 selected anganwadis in Yelahanka Block. Both teachers and anganwadi Supervisors have been included in these trainings.
Each of these trainings was held with a specific objective and agenda. The initial training for all anganwadis focused on creating an understanding of growth and development of children in the age of 3 to 6yrs (with a focus on brain development and learning in children).
The initial phase of the trainings had introduction sessions for all participants followed by different activity and games to ensure that teachers were made comfortable and involved in the trainings that followed. The first training also covered the basic roles and responsibilities of teachers and supervisors.
In the second training workshop conducted for all 50 anganwadis, the key aspects covered were: age appropriate learning and teachers’ roles in the context of learning in young children. In these training sessions, a basic review of activities conducted in the previous month was also discussed by the participants and solutions for different issues faced were identified.
The third training workshop introduced teachers to facilitate learning through a concept based approach. Here teachers were supported in understanding how to enable the children to understand the various concepts (eg. Fruits, vegetables, animals etc) and connect them to their lives thereby making meaning of the world around themselves. The teachers were supported to understand the various abilities that were required to be developed in the children and the way to conduct various activities which ensured building of capabilities and understanding of the concept which in turn prepared them to learn (by creating an interest for learning) and for school later on. This ensured the holistic development of the child. Broad areas and aspects that need to be covered for children in this age group were discussed to clarify the teachers’ understanding.
It was seen that all the teachers were participating in the training whole heartedly and enjoying themselves thoroughly. It was heartening to see many teachers who have been teaching young children for the past many years trying to understand what was being discussed and respond appropriately. The teachers also understood the need to upgrade their knowledge and skills and therefore the importance of the training. This training also created a platform for the teachers to come together and learn from each other.
It was seen on visiting the Centre that the effects of the training was slowly percolating down to within the anganwadi but this required more time and support.
By the end of the academic year, as planned the trainings will be completed for both Parents Committees and Teachers in 50 centres. Our experiences and learning from conducting these trainings will be shared with concerned officials with the intention of improving State level trainings for anganwadi functionaries conducted by the Department of Women and Child Development.
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