Reports bring to focus good practices making small schools successful in project mode and when NGO-managed

The research report of Dr Lalit Kishore "Multigrade Teaching in India: A study of selected practices" [1] supported by UNESCO, New Delhi, has been mentioned in the research monograph "Small, Multigrade Schools and Increasing Access to Primary Education in India: National Context and NGO Initiatives. CREATE Pathways to Access" co-authored by Nicole Blum and Rashmi Diwan as a joint publication produced by the Institute of Education, UK, and National University of Educational

University of London Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi. It may mentioned here that the Consortium for Educational Access, Transitions and Equity (CREATE) is a Research Programme Consortium supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID.

The research study of Kishore was sponsored by UNESCO on the culmination of the Janshala Project supported by five UN-Agencies and run in 8 states. The study captures features of the Multi-grade, multi-level, continuous progres, non-graded, competency-based, activity-based and self-study based teaching practices in small school set-ups with active community participation.

According the study by Blum and Diwan, a large number of small schools in rural and remote areas were 'established in direct response to domestic and international pressure to achieve Education For All and the Millennium Development Goals.' The study applying both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to understand the contemporary context of small schools in India at the national level 'complimented by a local-level exploration of small school initiatives by two NGOs which have shown positive results through innovations in multigrade management, teacher education, and school-community networking.' The small schools of Bodh in Rajasthan and RIVER-project schools in Andhra Pradesh were studied

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References

[1] Kishore, L. (2003). Multigrade Teaching in India: A study of selected practices. Unpublished research paper. New Delhi: UNESCO

[2] Blum, N and Diwan, R (2007). Small, Multigrade Schools and Increasing Access to Primary Education in India: National Context and NGO Initiative, CREATE PATHWAYS TO ACCESS Research Monograph No 17. Institute of Education and National University of Educational University of London Planning and Administration (NUEPA)