Mangaluru: Better English use in 30 govt. schools in DK

Mangaluru: Better English use in 30 govt. schools in DK

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 27, 2015: Parents in some schools in Puttur managed to fund the course from January to March, there were others who could not bear the course fee and hence some students left it midway before March.

The current CEO of Dakshina Kannada Panchayat P.I. Sreevidya said the problem of funding for this initiative was brought to her notice during a recent meeting of officials on improving the quality of language. “Coming from a rural background, I know what change English proficiency brings in a child from those areas,” she said.

CEO Sreevidya said she had discussions with Unicef officials, who agreed to fund to implement it in 30 schools. The Unicef will pay Rs. 60,000 per school for the programme. “Among the schools that have been selected are those from tribal pockets. This will be held in the Residential School in Bantwal and also in Chinnara Tangudhama (a transit home for underprivileged) in Kapikad in the  city,” she said.
Chennai-based Karadi Path Education started a programme to teach students English on a pilot basis in five schools in Dakshina Kannada 10 months ago, is now extending it to 30 more schools in the district.  Karadi Path Education is an organisation promoting English speaking among government school students.  The Unicef will fund the 96-hour course.  The target students of the programme are those studying from Classes 4 to 8.

The then Chief Executive Officer of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Thulasi Maddineni introduced the programme on a pilot basis in five schools in Mangaluru North and Puttur early this year to build confidence among students in government schools, . The organisation charged Rs. 900 per month for each student for the course.

C.P. Vishwanath, director of Karadi Path Education, said techniques they follow were the same that are used to make children learn a language. “Without getting into meanings and grammar, we engage children in stories, music and other classroom activities that improves proficiency,” he said and sought commitment of teachers for better results.

An orientation programme about the project for headmasters of 30 schools was held on Nov 26. Two members of the organisation will train the teachers for two days