The schools are either government-run or attended by students from low income groups
In a first of its kind role reversal, three schools in Isanpur have implemented a programme called Community Sharing Circle on an experimental basis which will see parents learning from students.
The schools are either government-run or attended by students from low income groups. The sharing circle refers to students, parents and teachers meeting in an informal setting for two hours every day and engaging in a new activity daily.
Arpit Upadhyay and Shraddha Kailkhura, Teach for India fellows, initiated the project. There is no 'structured' class, and elder students help the younger ones and sometimes the parents too. Upadhyay said that every student in the circle comes with the aim to learn from his or her friend. "Sometimes the parents chip in to help the students. There is no teacher in the circle. Say a class 1 student has some problem in a subject, he will be helped by either a parent who may know the subject or a student of a higher class who has already learned the subject," explained Upadhyay.
One of the objectives of the initiative is to help students feel comfortable expressing themselves. "Many of these children come from backgrounds which are not conducive for them. Speaking about their feelings helps them open up more. It also gives them confidence," said Upadhyay, and added that he has first-hand seen children undergo a transformation in personality after being a part of the circle.
Binita Mohanty is one such parent who regularly attends the sharing circle. "I have studied up to class 12. Those who initiated this used to teach at my son's school. Once there, the kids would teach each other and sometimes I would step in to help them. That is when some parents approached me to know if I could tutor their kids," said Mohanty, who now tutors several children.
Interestingly, Mohanty could not read or write English well until she started going to the circle. "The students would often talk and write in English so I began to pick up the language from them. They taught me so well that now I am confident of teaching it to the other kids," said Mohanty.
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