| learningnet-india.org The complete educational resource |
 |
| Home | |
| What's New | |
| Profiles | |
| Activities | |
| Announcements | |
| Publications | |
| Articles | |
| Resources | |
|
|
|
Keywords
Urban, Rural, Government, Science, Resource Centre, middle school
Geographical Location
Bangalore, Karnataka
Languages
Kannada, English
Philosophy/Beliefs
BGVS believes that education must develop confidence such that one can live anywhere and learn skills for life. Education should help in knowing the world and develop a person's humanity. Education should strive to be more secular and scientific in nature. Education should not become a commodity and there should be more state intervention in the area of education. Education should start from the day-to-day life of people and be linked with our everyday lives. BGVS' biggest strength is that it believes in working within the system to improve the existing system of education.
Objective/Mission/Goals
BGVS started in 1989-1990 in Karnataka when members of Jana Vigyan Jatha started working towards universalization of primary education and its quality.
Work Description
The organization has intervened with the Karnataka DPEP for participatory teacher training programs and worked on raising awareness, kalajathas, and children camps across the state. Their network with other people's organizations in other states - like TNSF, Ekalavya, KSSP, Delhi Science forum has assisted them in conducting many of its resourceful activities. Since many BGVS members are also the state's education resource department members, the organization has disseminated BGVS's philosophy of teaching to teachers in 50,000 schools within a limited time frame.
The Samiti has organized big camps and programs called chinnara melas (that was later adopted by DPEP) earlier known as Bal Utsava where it conducted many joy of learning activities, before DPEP started. The mela is organized for 3-4 days and typically it consists of 100 children, 50 from the host village and 50 from other nearby or far away villages. The children from other villages stay in the houses of the host children without any class, caste, gender or language differences and learn to communicate in spite of language differences.
For older children, a program called 'Akash Utsava' or 'Khagolayana' or cosmic voyage program was started in 1995 when the total solar eclipse occurred. The main objective of this program is to provide details and accurate information about the universe. The organization also conducted training for teachers on 'Secrets of Miracles' which gave details about 40-45 events that people consider miracles, but are actually a chemical reaction or some other physical manifestation explained in a scientific way. The organization has thus far published many children's books on water, health etc and as a follow-up of this, formed clubs for children, where children and teachers meet every Saturday or Sunday and discuss various topics, draw pictures, take excursions to banks, post-offices etc and do various activities. These books were designed to assist the activities and discussions in these clubs. BGVS has been continuously working with the government department and the teachers since its inception and has started a monthly magazine called 'Teacher'. This year as a part of the anniversary celebrations, BGVS is publishing a book called 'Teacher' which contains educational experiments, teaching learning materials, word building activities, book reviews, government author articles, maps for observing the night sky and many more activities. This book has encouraged teachers to share their ideas and experiences in this magazine.
Another program started by the organization is called the biodiversity registration program. BGVS is working with 100 schools along with the education department and have developed an activity book for activities to explore the environment around the school and the biodiversity around the school.
Resources Available
- 'Aadi kaliona' a book consisting of various activities that can be included during a 'Chinnara Mela'.
- A set of 5 books for children covering topics of health, science phenomenon, songs, children of Hiroshima and our moon.
- A monthly magazine called 'Teacher' which contains educational experiments, teaching learning materials, word building activities, book reviews, government author articles, maps for observing the night sky and many more activities
Contact Information
E. Basavaraju,
BGVS, IISc Campus,
Bangalore 560012
Phone: 080-23942395
Website Links
www.bgvs.org