The Gram Seva Programme (GSP), launched by SBI Foundation Mumbai, allowed the children to learn basic English reading and writing skills and even improved their general knowledge.
Classes were taken between 4pm and 7pm with necessary curriculum activity books.
Siddalingesh Ballolli, coordinator, SBI GSP, told TOI that remedial classes are one of 26 activities taken up under SBI GSP. “It is aimed at keeping rural students engaged in learning activities during the pandemic,” he added.
Sikandar Meeranaik, the CEO of Sankalpa Rural Development Society (SRDS), Hubballi, which is the nodal organisation for the SBI GSP, said that to address children’s learning gaps by reteaching basic skills, their focus was on core areas such as basic English reading and writing skills, mathematics and general knowledge. “Main aim is to provide an additional help to students in interior villages and help them develop a positive attitude as well as prepare them for future courses,” he added.
Asharani Hiremath, the education coordinator of SRDS, asserted that classes are being taken at Pethalur, Basapur, Tambragundi, Harogeri and Kelur and a local graduate is appointed as teacher in each village. “We collect Rs 25 per month from each kid and paid the teachers. We have about 150 students learning in class I to VII. It was started in October 2020 but was deferred during lockdown in May and June 2021,” she added.
Umadevi Kabberalli, a parent in Pethalur, said her two daughters attended these classes from a year and had shown improvement. “We are getting tuition on a par with urban students but at meagre fee of Rs 25 per month. Our children are facilitated with TV set, screen to learn by audio-visual media. If it wasn’t there, our daughters could have got disconnected from schooling,” she added.
Basappa Alavandi, a parent in Tambragundi, shared that many parents were worried about their wards’ education when school closure was extended indefinitely. “We were relaxed in October 2020 when SBI foundation launched classes. They are teaching our children by following all Covid-19 guidelines” he remarked.
( News Source :Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Rashtra News staff and is published from a timesofindia.indiatimes.com feed.)
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