LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Feb.8: Save the Children’s programme on early literacy and maths (ELM) for 3-8 years old children under back to basic helped an eight-year-old poor girl from Raikola Village under Tatanagar Block of West Singhbhum, Pushplata Kunkal, to resume her education, which was hit by poverty followed by corona pandemic.
A volunteer of Save the Children informed this saying the details.
This year has been very tough for Pushpalata. Her parents’ being illiterate, were unable to support her with studies. So, gradually her interest in studies also declined. This has also impacted her behaviour, she has become aggressive and short-tempered and she has lost interest in studies.
Her mother Drupati Kunkal and her Father Arjun Singh Kunkal were very worried to observe the change in her behaviour. During the COVID-19 pandemic when schools and AWC were closed, Parents and children participated enthusiastically in Save the Children’s programme on Early Literacy and Maths (ELM) for 3-8 years old children under Back to Basics Project. This project specifically aims at improving access to quality early and foundational learning for girls and boys of 3-14 years old.
During this time our Academic Support Fellows (ASFs)who engage with the community on regular basis and provide onsite support to AWWs and teachers of primary grades visited homes of children enrolled in Anganwadi and schools to conduct Early Literacy and Maths at home sessions along with AWWs.
When ASF Onami Kumari Gope used to do activities with the children in their homes, Pushplata always used to stand and watch. One day the ASF called her and asked her name and other details. ASF got to know that she is in Std 2 but the child could not identify a single alphabet. Her mother Drupati Kunkal was standing right there, and was shocked to see her child’s performance. She understood what her child had lost.
Parents in these parts believe that it is the responsibility of the teacher to teach and children to learn. As a parent, they never see that they could also engage meaningfully with children and support them in their education even within the home environment.
Pushpalata’s mother, following intervention from Save the Children, has been added to the parents’ group to watch the videos every day. The parents are also showing the videos to the child and are now doing the activity happily with their child. Now alphabet recognition and numbers and counting and other ELM skills are speedily picked up by the child. Pushpalata has gradually developed her interest in reading and tries to teach other children too, her parents are very happy to see all this.
Save the Children is working towards the provision of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) at home as one of the best response strategies to answer the developmental needs of young children at home. The project aims to reach 500 girls and boys in the catchment area of 25 target Anganwadis
