The educational landscape in middle school rural India
DESIGN RESEARCH TOOLS | BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH | QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
ABSTRACT
The education system and its peripheries have been an enticing subject to study and research upon for many entities for ages. At different levels either the importance of primary education is emphasized or the upliftment of higher education is taken into consideration. For years, the significance of Middle school has been undermined. The most critical and shaping years of a student's life are simply ignored or treated indifferently. Catering to this negligent approach we decided to conduct our research and propose design solutions on optimizing the education imparted in government middle schools of rural India. There is a need to study the current education system, the factors associated, challenges, shortcomings, and the attitude of its stakeholders for holistic development. The idea is not to bring about revolutionary changes but to study, observe, analyze, synthesize and hence create impactful research insights based on interesting research methodologies and creatively designed tools in order to plant tiny seeds of solutions for the growth of future sustainable models.
RESEARCH PLAN
Research question & Scope
Based on viability and
feasibility of the project we
worked on the desribable aspects and narrowed down our focused area.
Survey and Interviews
Interviews with Students, Parents, Teachers and Village officials to identify the challenges faced by them in order to generate best possible solutions
01
Secondary research
Research Papers, articles, desk research about rural education in India and concerned topics.
02
03
Primary research
An in depth research of villages. To study the demographics, ethnography, current system and concerns of
these areas.
04
05
Outcomes
To propose short term and long term solutions addressing the local challenges with an innovatively designed approach.
SECONDARY RESEARCH
ASKING QUESTIONS
Why education is important ?
Is education only about books?
Why education has become boring?
Do we ever want to go to school again?
How can we create skill-based learning in middle school children?
Why are children dropping out after middle school?
Which existing skills can be enhanced among Middle school students?
How to develop sustainable practices in middle school students?
Why middle school is important ?
How can we create design thinking based models for children in middle school?
What interests middle school students in their education/curriculum?
THE STATE OF EDUCATION WAS ALREADY ABYSMAL. PRE-PANDEMIC, KIDS WERE ALREADY BEHIND.
44%
students in Grade 8 could not read and understand small texts.
62%
students in Grade 8 could not use basic math to solve life problems.
THE PROJECTED IMPACT OF THIS ON KIDS IS EVEN MORE CATASTROPHIC
9 Mn
additional children are at risk of being pushed into child labour, globally.
24 Mn
additional children are at risk of never returning back to schools post pandemic, globally.
75 Mn
additional people in India have been pushed into poverty (Earning less than Rs.150 per day), impacting their ability to access quality education for their children.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, KIDS HAVE SUFFERED TERRIBLY.
2X
projected learning loss for every month of school closure
1.5X
calls received by Children (1098) in May 2020, pleading for protection from child marriage, abuse, etc.
6/10
children are not able to access or attend online classes regulary.
10 Yrs
approximate time it will take for them to catch up
EDUCATION
WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT ?
Education serves as a transformative force, enabling individuals to acquire knowledge, skills, and values essential for economic and social advancement. It stands as a cornerstone of personal and societal development, fostering inclusion, equality, and progress.
2nd lagest education system
65% rural population
MIDDLE SCHOOL
WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT ?
Erikson's stages of psychosocial development
Middle school, spanning ages 11 to 15 and grades 6 to 8, acts as a pivotal link between primary and secondary education. During this period, students experience significant changes and benefit from engaging challenges and emotional support to foster their development.
"The middle grades are the last best chance that we have to get youngsters on the right path toward academic and career success."
Sandy Kress, Author
EDUCATION CHALLANGES
-
Pedagical structural devide
-
Financial challenges
-
Lack of engagement due to growing age issues
-
Digital Divide
-
Lack of Parental illiteracy
-
Lack of interest in student
-
Child labour
-
Lack of training of Teachers
-
Lack of transportation facility
How can we optimize the middle schools in
rural India by making them more
engaging ?
PRIMARY RESEARCH
PRIMARY RESEARCH PLAN
SAMPLING
PURPOSIVE SAMPLING
Criteria for students : Location , School, Gender, Age, Class
Criteria for teachers : Location, Subject, Administrative role, Class
-
Voluntary sampling was used for taking parents and other stakeholders for interviews and surveys.
32 total children interviewed
7total teachers were interviewed
TOOLS USED
QUALITATIVE QUANTIFICATION
IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW
FLY ON THE WALL
SEESAW
BEE ON THE FLOWER
SURVEILLANCE EYE
LET'S CHECK
DATA ANALYSIS TOOLS
KEY INSIGHTS
DELIVERY OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE
Classrooms lack practical knowledge and engaging activities, relying heavily on bookish examples. Extra-curricular activities like arts, sports, and music are undervalued, while communication through WhatsApp is chaotic. Students lack career counseling and essential skills like leadership and teamwork. Mental health challenges are unaddressed, with no counseling programs available.
Schools lack essential facilities like clean washrooms, libraries, and functional computer labs, while facing vacancies for teachers and support staff. Extracurricular activities are undervalued, and there's a shortage of local teachers. Students are aware of these deficiencies and have ideas for their ideal school, while some schools face challenges with multigrade schooling due to limited classrooms.
BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS
FINANCIAL CONTRAINTS
Parents struggle to engage with schools, with one-way communication in online classes. Teachers find it challenging to assess student understanding and engage disinterested learners. The teacher's attitude influences student behavior and interest in the subject. While students desire a fun learning environment, they lack awareness of village cleanliness.
Students without laptops rely on phones for online classes, but inconsistent access due to limited devices in households results in many missing out on essential education.
TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
ADMINISTRATIVE & POLICY VOIDS
Poor internet connectivity hinders online studies in the village. Limited phone availability and lack of guidance on online learning prevent many students from attending classes regularly.
The no-fail policy of RTE fosters a mindset of passing exams without studying. Principals are crucial for implementing government schemes in schools. Vacancies exist for subject teachers, support staff, and guards.
SOCIAL CONSTRAINTS
Villagers support girls' education, but early marriage, household duties, and transportation barriers hinder their attendance. SC/ST students often drop out due to family labor and household responsibilities. Students express a desire to return to school for social interaction and enhanced learning opportunities. External organizations conduct workshops on puberty and menstruation awareness.
DESIGN DIRECTIONS
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, holistic educational growth is pivotal for India's economic and social progress on the global stage. A comprehensive education system in rural communities empowers individuals to navigate changing dynamics and make informed decisions. Collaborative efforts between government, corporates, and communities are essential to address unique challenges and drive sustainable impact. Quality education initiatives are key to reducing dropouts and fostering community participation. ASER (Annual Status of Education Report) highlights a shift from private to government schools, underscoring the need for a reformed and inclusive education system.
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