“Beyond Classrooms” – Innovative Initiative in WB Schools

Vinod Kakumanu
April 4, 2023, 2:27 p.m.

Schools reopened last year after a two-year gap because of the COVID pandemic. In the new session that started this January, many schools are trying new methods to teach life lessons to students while continuing with regular academics.

In this effort, several government schools are also taking initiatives beyond the prescribed curriculum to raise awareness among students and create opportunities. This is being done by encouraging children to explore activities that would generate an interest for school life.

For example, Santoshpur Rishi Aurobindo Balika Vidyapith in south Kolkata has started a financial literacy programme for students of Class VIII and above, to help them develop an understanding and basics of banking transactions. The school felt this was needed because many of the students or their families are unable to withdraw the money they get from various government schemes.

The girls are eligible for the Kanyashree scheme but neither they nor their parents are able to understand how to withdraw the money or that they need to submit KYC (Know Your Customer) details. In some cases, the account is becoming dormant and they have no idea about it,” said Sarbani Sen, the headmistress of the school.

For this purpose, the school had organised sessions conducted by officers of the Reserve Bank of India. Interaction with outside experts with proper banking system knowledge was found to have greater impact on students.

Similarly, Children’s Welfare Association High School for Girls in Southwest Kolkata’s Behala has begun training a selected group of girls in hockey. The school did not have its own playground but contacted a local club and arranged to use a ground adjacent to the campus.

Another school, Kanaknagar SD Institution in Hingalganj, North 24-Parganas district, has started reading and storytelling sessions for the children. This was started so that a well-developed reading habit will help wean students off the mobile, a bane of the pandemic.