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The
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Azim Premji Foundation,
will now be partners in supporting ‘Universal Elementary Education’
in India. This collaboration would facilitate leveraging on each
others’ programmes and achieving synergies in their common
goals. The agreement was signed by Maria Calivis, country representative-India,
UNICEF and Azim Premji, chairman, Azim Premji Foundation. The current
time frame for this collaboration is from March 1, 2002 to February
28, 2004.
UNICEF
and the Foundation will launch a joint programme in Karnataka and
subsequently collaborate in other parts of India. The joint education
programmes will include formulation of advocacy efforts that focus
on the quality of education with special emphasis on girls’
education. It will also seek to galvanize the private sector to
support initiatives in the field of elementary education.
Both
UNICEF and the Foundation have identified areas in Karnataka including
Yadgir, Shahpur, Jewargi, Gulbarga Rural, Aland taluk in Gulbarga,
Devdurga taluk in Raichur and Maddur taluk in Mandya district.
‘Wipro
Applying Thought in Schools’ programme
Wipro
presented certificates to 100 teachers who were trained under their
new initiative, ‘Wipro Applying Thought in Schools’ programme.
The training programme is aimed at enhancing creativity and problem
solving skills among students by re-skilling the teachers. The teachers
were from five Bangalore-based schools and were selected and trained
by Wipro.
Azim
Premji presented the Distinguished Wipro Applying Thought Teacher
certificates and prizes to 21 exceptional teachers for being the
most effective teachers in translating workshop ideas to classroom
practice. The five pioneering schools were also presented a trophy
and an over-head projector, in recognition of their pioneering spirit
in enrolling in a programme to enhance creativity among their students.
In
his address to the teachers, Premji said, “It is also necessary
to be aware that there is a social purpose of being in business.
India is at a stage of development where there are multiple issues,
all equally important and urgent. We decided to focus single-mindedly
on “education” as the key issue and put all our resources
behind it.”
The
Wipro project was developed and delivered by Jagruti-The Teachers’
Centre. It consisted of 18 full days of workshop training interspersed
with 12 days of classroom based support, where trained facilitators
worked with the teachers to put into practice the various new methods
learnt in the workshops. The facilitators also gave demonstration
lessons using various strategies in a class, showing the teachers
that it was possible to use techniques like group work most effectively
in a classroom.
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