By Javeed Mirza
Introduction:
At NEIEA, we have developed an INNOVATIVE educational model. It addresses 3 critical needs of Education 1) Building quality in education 2) Scaling and maximizing education so it becomes accessible in all corners of the country and 3) Undertaking effective Teacher’s training.
Blended learning model of education: NEIEA applies a blended/hybrid model of learning, combining ONLINE with ONSITE learning. A Lead center is established wherein subject matter specialists, Pedagogists and Technologists come together and build lessons based on syllabus given by the national agencies like NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Testing) and NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling). The devised lessons are constructed using Discourse Oriented Pedagogy (DOP), a modern pedagogy built by NEIEA co-founder Dr K. N. Anandan. The lessons are taught online by trained Mentor Teachers using the Technology platform, Google Classroom. The lessons are conveyed to educational institutions that need good quality teaching. The institutions that are seeking to establish quality in learning are termed as Secondary Educational institutions, for example Madrasa. We invite them to sign up with NEIEA and be the recipient of the lessons conveyed by the Mentor Teachers. The Secondary Educational institutions are the ONSITE centers that have functioning classrooms with students and teachers. Technology infrastructure is established in these institutions (i.e., primarily a laptop, a large LED screen, Internet, and printer/scanner). The students and teachers sitting in the classroom are exposed to the subject learning by the Mentor teachers from the Lead center. Live learning is imparted simultaneously, 7 days a week, at timings convenient to students and Teachers of all Secondary Educational institutions that choose to sign up with NEIEA. We use English as the medium of instruction and explain in Urdu/Hindi whenever required. The learners are extensively exposed to learning of English. The direct learning by students sitting in the classroom, from a highly trained and experienced Mentor teacher provides quality education to the students. The Teacher sitting in the classroom is also exposed to the process of building and delivering a lesson. The Teacher is provided with learning materials and the same is explained. Teacher training is accomplished.
Scaled, Inclusive & Equitable Education: NEIEA can provide massive Education for tens of thousands of youth using Technology. It avails the latest in technology like Google Classroom and multiple Apps that allow the maximum spread of Education to all corners of the world. NEIEA fosters and implements a value-based Inclusive education that does not discriminate based on religion, caste, gender, ethnicity, or location. It seeks to include all sections of society that have traditionally been denied good quality education. We support Value based education that imparts honest and ethical living and seeks to nurture co-existence and respect for all segments of society. It seeks to counter the loss of morals and rabid commercialization in human relationships.
Good quality education has been the preserve of the elite and the finically well off. It has been denied to all those who are not able to afford the high cost associated with it. At NEIEA we offer FREE education to all students who enroll to study with us. NEIEA sustains itself by seeking donations and contributions from its supporters.
Course offerings for Madrasa students. All courses are offered FREE (at no cost to the student or to the Madrasa)
a) Foundational English: This is an English course taught to students who are least exposed to English.
b) Beginners level English: This course is for students who are somewhat exposed to English.
c) Level 1 English proficiency: This course targets students and Teachers who are partially exposed to English and would like to be proficient in English.
d) Foundational Math: This course teaches students the basics of Mathematics.
e) NIOS sponsored SSC Xth exam study of mandated subjects and preparation for Board exam. The NIOS subjects currently NEIEA is teaching are English, Math, Home Science, Social Science and Data Entry
Course details: The courses are offered multiple times during the day so that students can avail them conveniently. They are taught ONLINE using Google Classroom. Each course is composed of one hour and the duration of the course is 90 days. The courses are constructed using Discourse Oriented Pedagogy (DOP). This helps nurture creative and critical thinking in the students and builds problem solving skills. Each course has multiple modules that the NEIEA staff design and construct using DOP. Each module has assessment forms that enable the monitoring of student performance. Homework and tests are conducted online and graded.
Certification of Attendance is given based on high attendance and satisfactory completion of the course. Students who do not fare well are encouraged to continue the learning and repeat the course. There is no restriction on the number of times that the student can repeat, and there is no restriction on the number of courses that a student can take.
Benefits: a) The above courses are meant to cater to ALL Madrasa students from age 10 and above. This permits learning by hundreds of thousands of students and learning. It is not confined to a limited coterie of selected bright students. All students get the opportunity to learn and progress.
b) The subjects are developed with the objective of helping the students build foundational knowledge of the subject and to conceptually understand the lessons that are taught. The learning of the above subjects will enable students to grasp the subject and confidently pass the exam and pursue higher studies.
c) Learning the subjects will enable the students to mainstream and join regular education and pursue higher studies or pursue Vocational/Technical education.
d) It will also qualify students to apply for govt. and private sector jobs that demand the passing of Xth exam as the minimum qualification.
e) The students build a huge reservoir of confidence as they feel comfortable discoursing in English (Reading, Writing and Speaking). It will create the pathway to the pursuit of Professional studies and to become financially empowered by undertaking skills-based training and qualifying for jobs that are in demand.
f) Students learn Technology as they are taught learning apps and learning platforms like Google Classroom, google docs, google meet etc.
g) Students gain socializing skills as they interact with students from many places and of wide social order when they take classes.
Requirements:
The Secondary institutions like Madrasas that would like to work with NEIEA need to:
a) Allocate time for the students. A few hours of the student’s schedule need to be set aside so Education can be imparted. In many countries religious education is taught along with regular education. The dual learning enables the student to pursue religious learning and at the same time pursue regular education. This will allow the student to mainstream and pursue higher studies. This opens huge growth opportunities for the learner.
b) An internet infrastructure needs to be established in a classroom within Madrasa. This infrastructure is composed of a large LED screen, Laptop, a large bandwidth Internet connectivity, Printer and Stationery (An approximate cost of Rs 1 lakh) for one class. This one class equipped with infrastructure will allow many batches of students in the class. One such Infrastructure enabled classroom can provide education for hundreds of students each day.
c) A staff member/Teacher of the Institution (Madrasa) is to be appointed as a Coordinator who will liaison with the NEIEA Mentor Teacher. The Mentor teacher will guide the Coordinator and coordinate the Teaching in the class.
Output:
a) Tens of thousands of Madrasa students will annually be able to obtain regular schooling (besides the religious learning taught by the Madrasa establishment). This learning will build foundational strength and in a few years the Madrasa students will become competent in all regular subjects and will be able to pursue higher studies and job opportunities.
b) Tens of thousands of Madrasa students will be exposed to Technology and to Discourse Oriented Pedagogy enabling high qualitative growth.
c) Teachers in Madrasa institutions will likewise benefit from the learning and can in turn help students do the learning.
d) Students who feel frustrated and depressed because of the absence of learning of regular subjects and the consequent lack of opportunities will feel enervated with this opportunity being provided at NO cost to them.
e) Students will be exposed to global learning and best practices. They will also be able to learn with associates from all over the country. This will build their socializing skills and confidence will greatly improve.
Challenge: The big challenge that the Secondary institution face is in overcoming the routine of their regular schedule and rejigging the schedule to accommodate the new approach to learning. It is a mental block that the Institution management needs to overcome. Failure to do so will mean the failure of their responsibility to bring meaningful change and progress in the lives of the hundreds of thousands of students that study in their institutions. The time has come to take the leap and build a new construct that will bring positive change in the lives of the Madrasa students as well as in the future generations of students that attend Madrasa.
Note: NEIEA does not interfere in the religious curriculum or in the management of the Madrasa.
Javeed Mirza, is the President of
New Equitable and Innovative Educational Association (NEIEA).
Contact for more information;
www.neiea.org +17185106778 (whatsapp)
javeed.mirza@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/javeed-mirza-90863937/