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SES School Vidyanagar, Hyderabad. Site Visit Report Kiran Date of Visit: March, 2011 Courtesy: Madhu. Overview. Date of Visit - March, 2011 School located in urban locality - Vidyanagar, Hyderabad
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SES SchoolVidyanagar, Hyderabad Site Visit Report Kiran Date of Visit: March, 2011 Courtesy: Madhu
Overview • Date of Visit - March, 2011 • School located in urban locality - Vidyanagar, Hyderabad • Started with objective for providing quality education for marginalized, underprivileged sections of society • Dysfunctional govt school in vicinity with 0% pass rate in 10th • Classes from KG to 10th, 256 students in total
Infrastructure • Two-story building with about 10 rooms • One small room (more like a storage space) for library • Very limited books and lab equipment • Classrooms seemed a bit cramped, but just adequate for the existing number of students • School has nobandwidth to take in more students with the existing infrastructure • Not much play area except small courtyard in front of the building, located in dense residential area • No computer(s)
Teachers • 16 teachers in total including the art, music etc.; of which 6 are very experienced • 3 helpers, support staff • Committed set of teachers • Mix of senior and junior level teachers • A few very experienced and passionate teachers working on voluntary basis are backbone of the project along with principal, support staff and other teachers • Principal also part of teaching staff and takes interest in looking for ways to improve
Teachers • Senior Teachers • A.VasudevRaoB.Sc • S.V.B. Narayana Sharma B.A., B.Ed • C. GunduRaoBsc., B.Ed • M. RaniPrameelaB.Sc.,M.A,M.Ed., • P. MeenakshiB.Sc, M.A(Eng) • Dr. Padma M.A(M.Phill) P.H.D
Students • Students range from KG to 10th • From economically weaker sections of society • About 70% or so students in lower classes • Students active and quite responsive • Lower KG kids quite shy, understandably so • Kids in lower and intermediate classes seemed more outspoken as compared to the ones in classes IX or X • Most of them seemed interested and enthusiastic about attending school • Limited after-school support seems to be a drawback • Parents committed to sending kids to school
Learning Levels • Learning levels were average to above average • Students showed willingness to learn • Reasonably comfortable in speaking English • Classes had some very good science charts made by students, although some showed a lack of understanding of what was depicted • mostly because teacher encouraged kids to make the charts before they taught the concepts • Math, science skills need some improvement • Most students got it wrong on first attempts – had necessary math skills but grasp of concepts needs improvement.
Challenges • Retention of senior teachers vital to quality of education imparted at school • Lack of resources for hands-on learning – Science Laboratory, Library & Computer Lab • No computers • Lack of after-school support structure to complement learning at school • Limited play time at school, lacking infrastructure • Teacher trainings on ABL etc may be useful • Longer-term sustainability
Improvements • Need to leverage proximity to high-tech companies • Engage with companies for support • Pursue mentorship programs • Books, computers donations • No computers – need to follow up on a prior commitment for donation of computer(s) from Synopsys Bangalore • Need to encourage hands-on learning • Engage with nearby schools • Attend science fairs at nearby schools • Parent reluctant to send kids • Transportation, logistics issues
Summary • Although school seems to create a parallel structure … • There definitely exists a wide gap between good private schools for those who can afford, and dysfunctional government schools for those who can’t. • SES school doing a good job in bridging this gap as a school for the marginalized with focus on quality • Commitment of senior teachers, principal and MrKanakaraju is vital to the functioning of school • AshaSV should continue to support SES while encouraging them to also look for other sources of funding