Ritinjali believes that learning should be a ‘holistic experience’ that synergizes the growth of the mind, body and spirit and contributes towards a learning society. Ritinjali’s mission is to empower and develop marginalized communities through holistic education.

Ritinjali and NDMC joined hands under the Bhagidari Scheme, for the improvement of the quality of Primary Education in the Navyug Primary School, Darbhanga House. Ritinjali undertook this project to make a new beginning towards the betterment of the school by providing all round development, quality teaching and learning at par with the best schools in India.

Details of the Partnership:

• NDMC to provide space, infrastructure equipment, supplies, curriculum, running cost and non teaching staff.
• NDMC to conduct admissions to the school.
• Ritinjali to bring in the Head, the teaching staff and run the programme.

Aims:
To realize and implement its vision, Ritinjali formulated the following aims:

• This was to be a programme for quality education in the NDMC primary school, aimed at demonstrating the impact of good teaching and learning practices thereby creating a Model School for the children of Delhi.
• One of the objectives was to run the school using the infrastructure and finances given to all other NDMC schools and to show how quality education can be imparted using the same given resources.
• Imparting all around development that not only focuses on academic excellence but emphasizes the importance of extra curricular activities as well.
• Enhancing the techniques of imparting education in the classrooms to make learning more interesting for the students.
• Stressing the importance of efficiency and accountability among the staff.

History Prior to Handing over to Ritinjali:

The building had not been in use for the past 30 years. It was handed over to Ritinjali in a condition where even the basic amenities were not provided. The walls inside were damaged, no drinking water was available and the toilets were non functional. The conditions were not conducive to running a school.

Ritinjali’s Contribution:

The school started in August 2005 with an enrolment of 70 children and one section each of Nursery and Class I. Ritinjali brought in a Principal with 30 years of experience in the field of education, supported by a team of 4 teachers as well as two part-time teachers. The teachers underwent a training programme at Pallavan for 2 months before starting the programme at Darbhanga House.

Infrastructure:

The building was brought into shape with minor structural repairs and painting. One of the toilets was repaired and converted into a staff toilet. One of the rooms was also converted into a waiting room for the parents so they could wait for their children to complete school and then pick them up. Ritinjali renovated the toilets and made them functional, so that the children could start using them. Water coolers were installed within the school premises keeping in mind the importance of providing the children with hygienic drinking water. Grills were also fitted on all the windows as well as the entrance to the school. The parents were extremely happy with these infrastructural improvements, and were eager to send their children to the school.

Education:

The school is under the management of NSES and follows the NSES admission policy, uniform, syllabus and holidays although Ritinjali manages the day-to-day functioning of the school. Therefore the programme is designed to implement the NDMC curriculum with the textbooks, teaching material and aids, uniforms, mid-day meals and all other facilities provided by NDMC.

• Teaching Aids
• Art and Craft
• Role Play
• Music

This gave the children the opportunity to express themselves more creatively, and tapped any hidden talents they might have. This also encouraged the children to take more interest in their studies.

Feedback from one of the Volunteers who worked at Darbhanga House:

One of the main teaching methods in the school is through songs and rhymes.  These songs and rhymes often have corresponding actions.  The repetitions of words and movements help the children remember letters, numbers and ideas.  I sing a lot of math rhymes with Class I, to help them remember numbers and their order.  For example, "I say one and you say lets have fun, I say two and you say can I come too, I say three and you say lets be free, I say four and you say lets dance some more". For this rhyme I made up movements, in which the children dance or have fun along with the song.  This makes learning more fun and interesting for them.  This is especially important since the materials within the classroom are so limited.  There are no blocks or colorful counting objects that the kids can play and experiment with.  So there need to be other fun things to aid the learning that takes place, and allow the children to get up and move, and not sit in one place the whole day.   

There is a range of abilities in the classrooms. In drawing, some of the children are much more creative then others. In both classes many of the children just try to copy the examples the teachers put on the blackboard.  However, a few of the children do expand and draw whole scenes. In the Nursery class, one child when asked to draw fish and water also drew a large ship in the water.   

One of the most amazing things I have learned and seen from these children is their ability to make the most mundane activity new and interesting.  For example, while drinking water from their thermoses they will device different ways to hold the thermos and different ways of drinking.  In this way, they are making a simple and almost thoughtless act of drinking, into a thoughtful process and game with themselves.

Suzanne Schwartz

Lesson Plan:

Teachers often overlook the importance of lesson planning. This results in poorly executed lessons and a failure to achieve the intended learning outcomes. Ritinjali instructed all the teachers at the Navyug School to prepare weekly lesson plans. Proper documentation would aid them to know exactly what needs to be taught and in what sequence.

Daily Assessments and Reporting System:

Ritinjali evolved a system of assessments and reporting which was greatly appreciated. New Report Cards were designed for all the students. The principals of other Navyug Schools came to see and learn from how the school was functioning. They found these report cards very innovative, and expressed their desire to use them in their own schools as well. We also refused to conduct examinations like the other NDMC schools, and focused instead on assessing the children’s academic progress and extracurricular skills on an everyday basis. Each day would start off with a recap of the concepts taught in the previous lesson. If the children had any problems, the teacher would take some extra time and clear all their doubts. A lot of emphasis was also put on the Homework that was given to the students on a daily basis. If it was not done by the children, the teachers would sit with them individually and help them complete it. Besides this, regular meetings were also held with the parents to assess their child’s performance.

Mid Day Meal:

There was a great emphasis on encouraging the children to eat nourishing meals. The teachers would try to get the children to eat a healthy snack, by telling them to get their parents to pack then something nutritious. A well balanced meal is important, not only for health but for their performance. The children do better in school and concentrate more if they eat a proper meal.

Excursions and Other Activities:

Due to the absence of a playground at the school, the Principal and the faculty were adamant that the children be taken on regular excursions. Transportation was the biggest problem, so the Principal took the initiative and consulted with various transporters and fixed a rate with a single transporter for the whole year. Ritinjali organized trips for the children to the Zoo, Rail Museum etc. Exhibitions and workshops were also conducted from time to time.

Safety:

Ritinjali identified the nearest hospital to the School, as well as the numbers of the nearest taxi stands in case of emergencies. Regular fire drills were also conducted.

Challenges:

• To formulate an approach in which the students are on top. The system had to exist for the students and not vice versa.

Feedback from the parents:

My daughter Aakriti, a student of Class II is doing very well academically. Earlier she was weak in studies, but the teachers at Navyug School have been training her very well. I am very satisfied with the way they teach. We do not want to transfer our child to another school. I request you to consider extending the School till Class V, so our child can continue to grow and learn more in this atmosphere.

Sunil Tanwar Father of Aakriti Student of Class II

I am very happy with the overall progress of my child. The teachers at the Navyug School are well qualified, very industrious and work on improving the children’s academic performance. They treat the children with a lot of love and affection. We are also extremely happy that the children are taken for picnics and that a number of extra curricular and cultural activities are conducted for them. I would like to request that more such schools be opened up so that many more students can benefit from the kind of education that this school provides.

Sushil Kumar Sharma Father of Mansi

My child is doing very well academically. The non academic inputs are very good in the Navyug School. The effective use of appropriate games and learning material help the children pick up concepts in Mathematics with great ease. The teachers at the school are very encouraging and never reproach a child if they make a mistake. I am also very satisfied with the detailed individual assessment system. The children are always completely involved in the activities that are conducted.

Father of Prachi Student of Nursery

My request is that this school should expand up to Class V. Both my children study at the Navyug School. I am very impressed with the way the teachers conduct the classes at the school. The manner in which they interact with the children is very positive and my children love coming to school.

Asha Mother of Sakshi and Shubham Students of Nursery and Class II

Ritinjali, through this model school, was able to demonstrate improved standards of education and an efficient administration within a given time frame. Although the school was supposed to open in April, the actual functioning of the school took place in August 2005. Hence during the review it was decided to extend the agreement by another year. The parents of the school were also very adamant that the school should continue not only to function, but that it should be expanded to include more classes as well.