Baripada: The Rasgobindapur block education officer in Mayurbhanj district has bagged the Commonwealth Education Good Practice Award-2018 for his effort in improving quality education in primary schools through swasikhyan (self-learning).

Rajesh Kumar Pradhan has implemented swasikhyan in the schools in his block since November 2015 under the programme "Mu bi Padhibi" (I will also read) under the motivation and guidance of the then district collector, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil.

Patil had sent a team of teachers to Satara district of Maharashtra in 2015 in an exposure visit to oversee the methodology adopted by the schools there to draw students towards learning.

"Despite the provisions of midday meal, school uniforms and free textbooks to attract students, the schools were struggling for attendance. Earlier, the unattractive classrooms, the passive teaching-learning process and apathetic attitude of teachers had failed to ensure 100 per cent attendance by the local students. So, we had held rounds of discussion among the stakeholders to frame the action plan in the process of swasikhyan in November 2015," said Patil.

"To achieve class-wise competency in a joyful and child-friendly environment in selected schools of the block, a series of measures, including motivational training to teachers, workshops on preparation of the teaching-learning materials, discussion with art instructors and so on, were conducted. Although the same practices were followed in all blocks across the district, Rasgobindapur block performed extremely well. The attendance started going up. The children had shown interest to study even after school hours in a fun-filled mode," he said.

The award, known as the Steve Sinnot Award, is given away to the finalist with the strongest teacher professional development component in the honour of late Steve Sinnot, former general secretary of the United Kingdom National Union of Teachers.

Pradhan in recognition of his effort to draw and retain students in schools through innovative fun learning was given the award at the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers held at Nadi in Fiji.

Pradhan said he had sent the project plan that was being implemented in Rasgobindapur to draw children towards school in March last year to the Commonwealth.

"The award carried a citation and a trophy. Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and Commonwealth secretary general Patricia Scotland were present in the event," he said.