Centre launches “Convoke” inviting suggestions to improve school teaching
Teachers, Principals asked to give micro research papers
New Delhi, Dec. 10 (Delhi Crown): The Centre Government has launched a new initiative “Convoke” inviting micro research papers from teachers and Heads of Schools (HoS) citing novel approaches to teaching that improve learning outcomes in school classrooms.
“Convoke” is a national research symposium which aims at addressing challenges in imparting education and strengthening its quality with special focus on all teachers, educationists, heads of schools across India.
The applications for “Convoke” are now open, and applications will be accepted till January end. Further details about the event can be accessed at https://bhartifoundation.org/convoke/
Through this platform, school teachers/ Heads/Principals of Government Schools and teachers from Bharti Foundation network will be encouraged to use research-based solutions through scientific approach, and showcase their efforts taken at the grass-root level in improving learning outcomes, said an official statement by NITI Aayog.
The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2022) also recognises and identifies teachers and faculty as the heart of the learning process. It recommends that teachers will be recognised for novel approaches to teaching that improve learning outcomes in their classrooms.
NEP 2002 recommends to develop platforms so that teachers may share ideas and best practices for wider dissemination and replication.
“Teachers over the years have been coming up with innovative solution to help support students and even more during lockdown. Through Convoke they can now share their micro research papers. These research papers will be analyzed by a panel of Educationists. The shortlisted Research Papers will be presented during ‘National Research Symposium’ scheduled in January 2022,” said the statement.
Speaking at the launch, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said, “there is a need to focus on quality as we have achieved near universal access in elementary education. It becomes an immediate and foremost important task given the learning regression that has happened due to the Covid 19 school closures. I hope that CONVOKE will become a platform which will be pan-India and it will become a movement towards improving learning outcomes through joyful teaching and learning. I appeal to all the education stakeholders to make quality education a mission to meet the aspirations of our youth. We must also focus on pre-school education as a significant number of children are not attending pre-school and therefore lagging behind in learning outcomes when they enter schools.” The NEP 2020 gives a lot of emphasis on finding solutions using scientific methodology, helping teachers and students develop 21st century skills. It envisions a comprehensive approach to transform the quality and quantity of research in India, which includes definitive shifts in school education to a more play and discovery-based style of learning with emphasis on the scientific method and critical thinking.