ഒരു കുട്ട കളിപ്പാട്ടവും, ഒരു വട്ടി പെൻസിലും - EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING PRACTICE AT GOVT. MODEL LP SCHOOL, THYCAUD - 18 November, 2022

ഒരു കുട്ട കളിപ്പാട്ടവും, ഒരു വട്ടി പെൻസിലും - EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING PRACTICE AT GOVT. MODEL LP SCHOOL, THYCAUD 

The student teachers of Government College of Teacher Education, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram, had the opportunity to visit Government Model Lower Primary School, Thycaud, on 18 November, 2022, as part of the experimental teaching practice in elementary school space. The students and teachers of GCTE, under the leadership of Rahul Sir and Isaac Sir, reached the school with a handful of surprises at 10 am after the morning assembly. The aim of the visit was to make the prospective teachers aware of how schools work and this school in particular offered the best experience with the modernized teaching and learning atmosphere.

As the name of the programme suggests, the student teachers of GCTE handed over ഒരു കുട്ട കളിപ്പാട്ടവും, ഒരു വട്ടി പെൻസിലും for the students of the school. In addition to these, a Christmas tree and all the embellishments to adorn it were also gifted to the school. A handful of children's story books, along with our classmate Jessy's poetry collection, Unheard Voices, were contributed to the students' library. A bunch of flowers and a bundle of colour papers were also included with the other gifts.

Then began the programmes planned for the tiny buddies of the school. The student teachers first entertained the students with a children's song "Kukkuru kukku kurukkan" which the kids sang along. Keerthana S, I B.Ed student, performed magic tricks using mathematical probability which aroused the curiousity of the kids. Science experiments were performed for them by Harsha, Alfiya, Devika, Keerthana and Rakesh. The kids showed immense interest in the experiments and responded enthusiastically to all the questions asked to them. A panchatantra story with a good moral was shared by Devika. The most dynamic event of them all was the action song led by Vignesh and team. The kids danced along with them and were then given a chance to dance to the same music on stage.The kids were made to play word games by Ashly and Bushra. All the kids actively participated and responded to all the programmes.

After the programmes presented by the student teachers, Dr. Joly S, Vice Principal of GCTE, interacted with the students and also sang a beautiful poem for them. A memento from the part of GCTE was handed over to one of the teachers of the school as a token of gratitude and appreciation for their efforts in maintaining the school. Also, our classmate Jessy contributed her poetry collection Unheard Voices to the school library.

    About Govt. Model LP School, Thycaud

Established in 1910 with almost 2000 students, the school faced a major setback with the emergence of private schools and other institutions in the locality. It was just 100 students who were in the school by the year 2010. Then the covid 19 pandemic struck, adding to the stream of difficulties they had to tackle. However, the Headmaster and the staff members tackled the issue bravely. They used this time to modify and renovate the school in such a way that the students get a warm welcome upon their re-entry after the pandemic. The school did receive funding from Samagra Shiksha programme; however this was not adequate for their plans to materialize. It was so surprising to know how they overcame this financial crisis. The Headmaster and the teachers made their own contributions; nearly 1.2 lakh rupees were gathered by teachers on their own. This itself is a testimony of the value attributed by them to their school and how much they wish for its upliftment. As a result of their hardwork and dedication, the school admissions continue to  increase year after year.

The renovations made were innovative and commendable. Ordinary classrooms became smart classes. Plane walls got adorned with pictures from the lessons that the kids have to learn. Thus learning took place all around, not just limited to bookish knowledge. They came to school, sat in classrooms, experienced the world in the lessons through the walls around and then went deep down the details and characters of every lesson.

Major Attractions of the School 

1. Activity Room

A spacious and immensely colourful activity room is one among the major attractions of the school. It is a well designed and brilliantly constructed hall of the school. There are different corners in the hall that are devoted to specific areas of interest. There are separate spaces for Drama, Music, Dance, Mathematics, Drawing etc. The intricate details of the hall are worth appreciation. The roof of the hall is designed in such a way that, as one walks from one end to the other, one actually experiences an entire day that starts with the rising sun and ends in moon and the star studded sky. It was while examining this hall that we came across a drawing of the late great musician Bala Bhaskar, a former student of the school. The activity room is thus the perfect space for playing and learning to the students.

2. Maathrikam Studio

An LP school with a studio. How extraordinary is that!!! We were amazed to see the well organized and spacious studio set inside the school. It was great to hear from the staff that it is their contribution that has gone to the making of this studio. The online classes during Covid 19 phase were shot in this studio. Even today, the various programmes for the school's YouTube channel are also recorded here.

3. Innovative and Engaging Classrooms

The corridors were painted and decorated with pictures and diagrams that taught the children further. They are continuously exposed to different forms of knowledge, throughout the time they spend inside their school.

4. Library for students 

As prospective teachers, this one day visit to Govt. Model LP School, Thycaud, was indeed a memorable learning experience. We saw in the teachers the dedication and sincerity that are inevitable in taking any institutions forward. The pride with which they repeated "എന്റെ വിദ്യാലയം, എന്റെ അഭിമാനം" was indeed inspiring. It was a memorable day for all the student teachers of GCTE.