MIL KE CHALO ASSSOCIATION (MKCA)

Supported by: Wipro

About MKCA

We are trying to develop scientific temperament in rural youth to make them capable for better future nation formation. To achieve this objective, we are using both formal and informal platforms. Activity Based Learning (ABL) technique is the foundation of all our programs. We are utilizing science-education as a medium to engage with our stakeholders.

We believe that scientific temperament is necessary not only for the application of science but also for life. We can bring the desired positive change in society though this approach. At present, very few or no efforts are taken in schools to improve scientific temperament of children. The casual attitude towards education in rural area worsens this situation. We focus on this issue with our different programs.

During changed situations due to COVID-19, we are working on one more objective of ‘keeping the students in touch with their academic studies’. As schools are closed and very few efforts are taken by local schools on educating their students, they started unlearning the things that they studied earlier.

Programs

The two programs though which we are engaging with our stakeholders are Vidnyan Vedh (VV) and Informal Learning Center (ILC). VV program mainly involves scientific concept-clearing activities and discussions around them. This year, we were able to do it up to some extent through offline digital education. We were also able to do face-to-face interactions in community learning centers for some students from VV program.

ILC is a community-learning center, which is used to study the impact of informal learning techniques on children’s understanding. We were able to give sufficient time to do activities in this center as students had plenty of time (due to zero school hours).

In both the programs, same importance has been given to content as well as the thought process of students. More weightage has been given to hands-on activities, as most of the rural students are kinesthetic learners. We have also taken some important steps to start working with science teachers to improve the impact of our work and make it more sustainable. School mapping, teachers’ interview, and communication with local government bodies and teachers’ panel are the highlights of that work. In short, we have to change our operations during COVID-19, from in-school sessions to offline digital education with some face-to-face interactions though our community-learning center.

Location

We are working in rural area of Amalner Tehsil of Jalgaon District in Maharashtra. This region of North-Maharashtra (Jalgaon, Dhule, and Nandurbar Districts) is known as ‘Khandesh’. The main spoken language in rural area here is ‘Khandeshi’. We are working with students of 4 schools in 4 different villages near Amalner. Amalner is a well-known town in Khandesh region and these villages are within a 20 km radius. VV program has been implemented in the schools of some villages, namely Wavade, Mandal, Shirsale, and Dhar. ILC runs in Wavade village only.

Plan for the next  1-3 Years

To deal with the changing situations due to COVID, there will be 3 different plans. We will adopt the most suitable plan to cope with the situation we will face here.

Plan–A: No schools in this academic year: Continuation of present operations with implementation of 2-3 community-learning centers

Plan–B: Limited time in schools: Plan A + Effective utilization of in-school sessions for feedback, assessment, and material distribution

Plan–C: As usual school schedule: Full-fledged Vidnyan Vedh with skills orientation for PBL