Latest news with #SSK
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
SSK gets first graders ready for schooling
'Onnorukkam' is a two-week school readiness programme to equip students with skills in various development domains 'Thannaaram thaka thannaaram, Thannaaram thaka thannaaram Minnalu kandu thannaaram, Thannaaram thaka thannaaram Idivettunu thannaaram, Thannaram thaka thannaaram Mazha peyyunnu thannaaram, Thannaaram thaka thannaaram' This is just one of the ditties that students reaching Class I this academic year will sing and hum as part of a two-week school readiness programme being implemented by the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) at the start of this academic year. 'Onnorukkam' is a programme that aims at making children ready for school and equipping them with competencies that they require as they begin formal education. Most five and six year olds entering class I will have some preschool experience, be it at an anganwadi, government preschool, or private one, but it is hardly uniform. Also, a minority reaches class I straight, having never been to any kind of preschool. In a grade where students are expected to pick up language, mathematics, art, and physical education, it becomes imperative that they acquire the prerequisites needed for making this transition smoothly. In these two weeks, the SSK has attempted to provide students with a host of experiences that hone their skills in various development domains. Songs are one such experience. Towards this one, songs revolving around themes such as rain or farming and their karaoke have been provided to teachers for singing in class. Stories, acting, mime, drawing, craft, play, and group activities are other activities that help in their physical, cognitive, language, and socio-emotional development. The time will also help teachers understand each student – their strengths and weaknesses – so that necessary support can be provided to them. School readiness programmes have been implemented earlier, but the approach is more focussed this time. A module too has been developed to guide teachers on the basis of their feedback of student engagement against the backdrop of new class I textbooks introduced last year. A component of Onnorukkam is 'Onnorukkam Veedorukkam.' It is an orientation for parents on how to support class I students at home so that they can achieve the learning outcomes specified in the curriculum. It familiarises parents with children's development domains and the importance of independent effort, with parents providing only the necessary support rather than doing an activity entirely. The SSK has given special attention to the school readiness programme in tribal areas where students are likely not to have any preschool exprience that prepares them for formal schooling. Language too emerges a problem as tribal languages that the students are used to are very different from the medium of instruction used by teachers who do not belong to tribal communities either. These factors contribute to the problem of school dropouts in such areas. To bridge this gap, the SSK has translated the songs prepared as part of the school readiness programme into tribal languages such as Irula, Kurumba, Paniya, Kurichiya, Muthuvan, Mannan, Cholanaikkan, and others.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Fund crunch threatens to disrupt operations of hostels for tribal students in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The tussle between Kerala and the Centre over the release of funds through the Samagra Shiksha scheme is set to hit the smooth functioning of six residential hostels for Schedule Tribe (ST) boys and one for girls that house close to 400 students. The hostels managed by Samagra Shiksha-Kerala (SSK) provide both residential and academic facilities to children hailing from sparsely populated, hilly and densely forested areas. The fund crunch has landed their academic future in uncertainty. The disbursal of Central funds through Samagra Shiksha has been facing disruption since the second half of 2023-24 but the SSK managed to overcome the crisis using the funds provided by local bodies under the elementary education head. However, with no funds in sight since the beginning of the current fiscal, SSK officials are in a fix on how to keep the hostels running. While the six boys' hostels, set up in 2018-19, have a combined intake of 300 students, there are 80 students in the facility for girls that was established in 2022. Of these, only the facility for girls functions from its own building; the rest operate from rented buildings. 'The hostels require Rs 2.14 crore annually for functioning. A major portion of the fund is spent on food, rent and the remuneration of teaching and non-teaching staff,' said an SSK official. Since the new academic year began on June 2, the hostels have been functioning at the mercy of the building owners and traders who allow credit for purchase of provisions.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Samagra Shiksha Kerala: State sanctions ₹19.77 cr. for payment of staff salaries
The State government has sanctioned ₹19.77 crore for distributing the salary for staff under Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), a centrally-sponsored scheme. Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal said the State government has advanced the amount in view of the Centre withholding its share, affecting the timely payment of salaries. SSK employs over 6,800 staff. This includes 689 teachers, 1,255 specialist teachers, 2,784 resource teachers, 1,031 cluster coordinators and other staff. The Centre, responsible for 60% of the expenses under the scheme, has withheld its share for the past two years, according to Mr. Balagopal. The arrears have mounted to ₹609 crore, according to Mr. Balagopal. Two instalments from the 2023-24 fiscal are pending. No funds were issued towards the Central share in 2024-25.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
With an increase in dropout rate, education remains a distant dream for tribal students in Edamalakkudy
As a new academic year is set to begin on Monday, proper education remains a distant dream in Edamalakkudy, the first tribal panchayat in Kerala. Despite the State government's upgrade of the panchayat's lower primary (LP) school to upper primary (UP), the number of students has been decreasing every year. According to sources, the total number of students in the school in the 2023-24 academic year was 72, which decreased to 54 in the 2024-25 academic year. The sources said that out of the 54, nearly 30 students have no Aadhar cards, and due to this, they will be ineligible to apply for scholarships. Given transfer According to the sources, the headteacher was the only permanent staff in the school. However, he has already been given a transfer and will be relived of his duties on Monday. Most of the students arrive from distant settlements and need to trek two to three hours to reach the school. The lack of adequate hostel facilities and amenities is a significant factor contributing to the rising dropout in the school, they said. 'The school has been witnessing a noticeable trend of decreasing enrolment. The State government had upgraded the school from LP to UP two years ago. However, even the board of the school has not been corrected to indicate this change,' said a source. The school has six posts for permanent teachers, said sources. However, the lack of accommodation-facilities for them is another hurdle that prevents teachers from working here on a long-term basis, they added. Meanwhile, Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) block project coordinator Shaji Thomas said that the SSK had already conducted a door-to-door campaign in the 21 tribal settlements in Edamalakkudy and had made parents aware about the importance of ensuring regular attendance. 'Only eight students joined Class I in the last academic year. However, this year it has increased to 16. Also, the Education department has already appointed three teachers, and they will be joining on Monday,' said Mr. Thomas. According to panchayat officials, the government is also planning to construct a hostel for both boys and girls in Edamalakkudy. Heavy rain The panchayat has witnessed heavy rain for the past few days due to which six settlements have been isolated. This will prevent students from these settlements from attending the school on Monday. Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine will inaugurate the district-level Praveshanolsavam at St. Sebastian's UP School in Thodupuzha on Monday at 9.30 a.m.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
DK's govt schools get funds and materials worth Rs 9.2 crore
Mangaluru: Govt schools across Dakshina Kannada (DK) have received significant support from CSR funds, MLA grants, donors, students, well-wishers, alumni, and others, worth Rs 9.2 crore in the last academic year (2024-25). Contributions came in the form of money, materials, and even salaries for honorary teachers. Interestingly, many current and former students also donated both money and items to their alma mater. Additionally, funds were collected through the 'Namagaagi' portal, developed by engineering students and launched by the DK district administration. Sumangala S Nayak, deputy project coordinator, Samagra Shikshana Karnataka (SSK), said that donations in cash and materials were received across the govt schools in the district. The grants were received for infrastructure development. Some of the donations included electronic gadgets such as mixer grinders for midday meal programme, smart TVs, CCTVs, solar panels, projectors, fans, interactive smart boards, public address systems, desktops, and printers. In the furniture section, items like desks, benches, chairs, cupboards, podiums, and others were donated. Additionally, schools received donations of notebooks, writing materials, interlocks, uniforms, cement plastering for the school, and funds for other development works. "Some donors made monetary contributions while others donated items," said Nayak, adding that the total cost of the contributions made during the last academic year was estimated to be around Rs 9.2 crore. A source from the education department, who did not wish to be named, said that donors showed more concern and made more contributions towards govt schools over 100 years old. "These generous contributions have strengthened govt schools and attracted more students to the campus. With this help, the infrastructure and other facilities at these institutions have been upgraded." Govinda Madivala, DDPI, Dakshina Kannada, said that donations in materials and cash have contributed to the growth of govt schools. Besides, the Namagaagi portal launched by the district administration is also trying to generate funds from donors. "Currently, it is facing technical issues and is expected to be functional soon," he said.
