The Bhagidari Scheme

Ritinjali and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) are united in their aim to provide a teaching and learning environment to the students of NDMC schools, that is comparable to the best schools in Delhi . To this effect, NDMC and RITINJALI forged a partnership to rejuvenate the quality of education in NDMC Schools, with Ritinjali taking a number of measures to achieve this objective.

To realise its objective of providing a holistic learning environment, Ritinjali is implementing the following programmes in collaboration with NDMC:

Avlokan - A school appraisal system to identify the strengths of NDMC schools and sharing the best practices identified in all schools thereby rasing levels of achievement and holistic all round development of children in these Schools.

Ritinjali introduced ‘Avlokan', an appraisal system for NDMC primary schools in Delhi . The programme is designed to identify the best practices prevalent in all NDMC primary schools and disseminate them more widely, thereby rejuvenating the quality of education in schools.  To this end, four rounds of appraisal of the forty-nine schools were conducted from April 2005 – October 2005. The schools were appraised through a comprehensive twelve-page checklist developed by a team of 10 NDMC Head Teachers during a 5-day workshop organised by Ritinjali, prior to the commencement of the school appraisals. The appraisal team comprised of ten Head teachers (one Head Teacher on rotation, every day) and two Ritinjali resource persons. They undertook “spot check” visits to schools, without giving prior notice of the appraisal, in order to capture the conditions on a typical school day.  At the end of each appraisal, a report was prepared and sent to all school heads and stakeholders.

When the appraisal team undertook its first school visit, motivation level amongst teachers and students was at its lowest and students' performance was also not up to the mark. However, with each subsequent visit, the team observed a significant improvement in the key issues identified under the checklist. The team noted a positive and healthy competition amongst schools and teachers to bring about changes in schools. By the fourth round of visit, the team observed tangible changes in almost every school in one aspect or the other. Most teachers reportedly, read the Avlokan reports and the team was informed that teachers, whose names were featured in the report were being congratulated by colleagues and teachers from other schools as well. Further, the outstanding teachers whose names were mentioned in the best practices have been consistent in putting extra effort and children are benefiting from it. The zeal of those teachers is infectious and a motivating factor for many teachers to re-dedicate their efforts to quality teaching and learning practices. Head teachers also reported that Avlokan has made teachers more alert, responsible and punctual in their work. Most teachers now maintain their diary and children's work is corrected and regularly checked. The team found that in many schools, students' quality of learning has improved to a certain extent, compared to the earlier visits. Schools, despite the numerous limitations, are genuinely striving to make the school environment conducive to learning and to improve the quality of education.

The team was pleasantly surprised to learn that support staff such as sweepers, Bal Sahayikas were also competing to do better than their counterparts. As a result, hygiene and sanitation in schools has noticeably improved.

It should also be mentioned that the NDMC governing body has also taken some action to address certain concerns, such as safety and hygiene. The fire department has been instructed to conduct fire drill once a week and safety equipment has been installed in almost all schools. Further, all schools have received a notice to get water tanks cleaned monthly, so that children could have safe drinking water.

Furthermore, at the direction of Director Education, NDMC, the Avlokan team undertook to assess the December 2005 mid-term examinations in NDMC primary schools. The objective of the exercise was to bring to light the loopholes as well as the effective practices of the existing examination system in the NDMC schools. However, it must be mentioned here that Ritinjali does not believe in examination as a form of assessment in primary schools.

To showcase the first phase of Avlokan, Ritinjali and NDMC will be giving a presentation in March 2006. The programme would include appreciation and acknowledgment of individuals of schools and best schools with a hope that it would lead to greater self-worth and initiative amongst them, thereby providing motivation for change. The handbook on the best practices identified in NDMC Primary schools shall also be disseminated to all schools and stakeholders on the day of the presentation.

Darbhanga House – A programme for quality education in NDMC primary school, aimed at demonstrating good teaching and learning practices. Ritinjali has brought in the teaching staff at Navyug Primary School , Darbhanga House to provide all round development, quality teaching and learning at par with the best schools in India . The school is equipped by NDMC and the programme is designed to implement NDMC curriculum with the textbooks, uniforms, mid-day meals and all other facilities provided by NDMC.

The NDMC and Ritinjali “Bhagidari” is aimed at demonstrating the impact of good teaching learning practices and thereby creating a model school for the children of Delhi .

Navyug Primary School at Darbhanga House was chosen to make a new beginning towards betterment of schools. Ritinjali has brought in the teachers and school head and is running the Primary School as the first model school. Staff were hired and trained for a month before the school opened. The school is under the management of Navyug Schools Educational Society (NSES) and follows the NSES admission policy, uniform, syllabus and holidays although Ritinjali manages the day-to-day functioning of the school. Books, teaching material and aids, mid-day meals are also provided by NSES.

The school started in August 2005 with one section each of Nursery and Class I.

Through this model school, Ritinjali will demonstrate improved standards of education and an efficient administration within a given time frame. It is hoped that the Model School at Darbhanga House will be able to set an example for all the remaining NDMC Schools.