Special Training Centers

Under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan, Special Training Centres (STC) in designated schools have been opened by the Education Department, EDMC with motive of providing special training for age appropriate admission of Out of School Children at Elementary Level. Each year, special training facility was imparted to Out of School Children to enable a child, admitted to an age appropriate class, to integrate academically and emotionally with the rest of the class. Venue and timings of operations of Special Training Centres are decided by the Education Department, EDMC. It provide Special training to identified Out of School Children in Special Training Centres set up for this purpose so as to ensure their seamless transition into age appropriate class after completion of bridge course. Some STCs are being upgraded to Gyan Lok to provide the various facilities to all OoSC to encourage retention, continued attendance and to increase the motivation level of students by providing e-learning tools, educational kits etc.

GYAN LOK as joyful learning centers for Out of School Children (OoSC):-

1. They create a healthy teaching learning environment for OoSC at STCs.

2. Students of STCs get an opportunity to learn through technology by using equipment like Projector, Smart TV.

3. Now children of STCs can also learn through play way method with the materials like Educational Kit, Abacus etc. provided in Gyan Lok.

4. They are helpful in reducing the dropout rate from STCs because studying at STCs is now a joyful experience. Children are motivated to attend classes in STCs.

Click here to read more about STC

When the RTE Act came into effect on April 1 2010, it brought much needed educational provisions for the much needed changes to eradicate the inequalities prevailing in the Indian Education System. It was considered a milestone effort on part of the policy makers. Based on the intention of ‘No child left behind’, many goals such as Free and compulsory Education, Age-appropriate admission, No Detention Policy, Academic support in case of a first generation learner or an Out-of-school Child (OoSC) were set. In this endeavor, it further states in Chapter 2, section 4, “Provided that where a child is directly admitted in a class appro- priate to his or her age, then, he or she shall, in order to be at par with others, have a right to receive special training (ST) in such manner, and within such time limits, as may be prescribed.” [RTE Act, 2009]

This special provision in the Act necessitates a meticulous and time bound action plan. The plan would invariably include-identification of learners, development of Special Learning Support Material (SLSM), arrangement of special classes, mainstreaming of out-of-school children and evaluation. Hence, evaluation of such children will vary in respect of its organization and approach commensurate with the learning needs and styles of these learners so as to bring them at par with their peers.

The SPECIAL TRAINING CENTRES (STC) AND THE ‘BRIDGE COURSE’ FOR OOSC

Till September 2012, there were no ripples regarding the Special Training Programme (STP) or commonly stated ‘the bridge course’. However, a circular in October 2012 released by SSA initiated the process of establishing STC in MCD and Delhi Administration Schools. The significant features for the STP are.

To design age-appropriate Special Learning Support Material (SLSM) for OoSC.

• Classes for STP to be held in a school premises or safe surrounding. It means that the STC would * be in a MCD school if run by SSA .

STP to be provided by school teachers or Education Volunteers (EV) appointed by SSA.