Chomal, Aanchal
(2016)
Workbooks or playbooks? – experience of developing
workbooks for Rajasthan government Schools.
Learning Curve (25).
p. 64.
Abstract
Azim Premji Foundation conducted an assessment of Mathematics, Environmental
Science and Language learning in Classes I to V of government schools in Rajasthan
as part of one of its programs, known as the Learning Guarantee Program. The study
showed very low levels of learning in basic reading, writing, mathematical operations
and simple connections to the environment. This drew out from teachers a constant
demand, ‘Help us to impart true competencies.’ The textbook, totally teacher-driven, had so far been the sole
resource, for transacting the subjects. Teachers felt the need for something that would supplement the textbooks,
so as to open doors to multiple ways of transacting the lessons - and they did not feel that mere teacher training
would serve that purpose. This led to the genesis of the project of developing workbooks.
At the invitation of the State Project Director, Azim Premji Foundation (in collaboration with Digantar and Vidya
Bhawan Society) developed workbooks for the State of Rajasthan - for all the 78,000 schools which deal with
almost about 1.5 crore children across Grades 1-8. One team was constituted at Jaipur (with Digantar) and another
at Udaipur (with Vidya Bhawan Society) for a period of about 6-8 months. Workbooks for Grades 1 to 5 were for
the subjects- Hindi, Mathematics and Environmental Studies, while for Grades 6 to 8 - workbooks for Hindi, English,
Mathematics, Science & Social Science were developed. All those involved in the project collectively reviewed the
content of all existing textbooks. The following emerged as points of concern:
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