The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) jointly launched an online certification program on Experiential Learning. This program has 350 students from students in the CBSE and EMRS (Eklavya Model Residential Schools) umbrella. This progam has begun on 20 November under collaboration with Tata Trusts, TISS, CETE and Mahatma Gandhi International School, Ahmedabad.

The program was launched in an event celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, attended by Anil Kumar Jha, Secy to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Manoj Ahuja, Chairman, CBSE, in the presence of Asit Gopal, Commissioner, National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS); Dr. Naval Jit Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and R. Pavithra Kumar of Tata Trusts.

350 educators across 6 States are part of the learning program, which is expected to do a great service for the cause of tribal education development having exponential impact on the way EMRS schools emerge as model schools in the times to come. The educators, consisting of teachers as well as Principals of CBSE and EMRS (Eklavya Model Residential Schools) was based on the criteria of digital literacy, comfort with English, and their motivation to learn new pedagogies. Select teachers will be recognized as “Teacher Leaders” by  MoTA and will espouse the Experiential Learning Pedagogy to the EMRS teaching fraternity in a phased manner. The course will capacitate the teachers to equip the students with 21st century skills and learning processes.

“The tribal students studying in EMRS though are first generation learners, however, creativity is inherent amongst them. Creativity, enterprise, risk-taking are some of the attributes that naturally get unleashed during their life-cycle. “ - Anil Kumar Jha, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Salient Features of the Experiential Learning for 21st Century Programme

• Course curated in consultation with the faculty from TISS and MGIS to incorporate theoretical and practitioner perspectives of experiential learning for teachers.
• It is a 6 week program covering 4 modules supported with virtual webinars to discuss the teachers’ understandings and assist them along with the course learnings.
• It will empower teachers with ideas and strategies that make the learning process more meaningful, that add challenges, that allow linkages with real-life and hone creativity, communication, and collaboration skills among their students.

“Tata Trusts’ work in education is committed to addressing issues of quality and equity by convening Government partners to address systemic issues. Our interventions focus on innovative, scalable solutions, deployed in government schools that serve the bottom of the pyramid. Teachers are an integral part of our program / intervention and this course aims to enhance their practice. Collaborating with the Government for the professional development of teachers is therefore central to the Trust’s work in education.”, R Pavithra Kumar, Chief Program Director- Tata Trusts.

What the Experiential Learning Program aims to do:

• Sensitize teachers towards multi-sensorial pedagogical experiences with a special focus on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of students.
• Enable teachers to construct alternative strategies to develop 21st-century skills and competencies in their students.
• Guide teachers to map learning experiences to concepts and competencies.
• Transform teachers as active members, contributing to a community of educators.
• Support upskilling of teachers as teacher-leaders.