A team of representatives from the UK interacts with school students in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Jan. 27: Classrooms in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar are interacting with classrooms in the United Kingdom through a programme that aims to globalise education.

Collaborators hope “Connect Classroom Programme” will give students and teachers a broader understanding of education. A representative team from Carmarthenshire (Wales, UK) is conducting extensive research on the existing primary education scenario.

Under the programme, the team is visiting schools in the twin cities to share and gather information about current trends of education.

The programme is being organised by British Council and the government of Orissa. Teachers and students will interact with each other through internet, video conferencing and email.

“It is a joint collaboration project that deals extensively with one’s native place... We try to find out about the culture, tradition, food habits and lifestyles of people here and share our views with one another,” said a teacher, Carol James (45).

The six-member delegation visited the Government Girls’ High School, Kazibazar, and interacted with students, teachers and others on the occasion of Republic Day yesterday. Earlier, the team had also visited other schools under the Cuttack Cluster schools.

“We have visited 10 schools in the last couple of days and the experience has been fantastic. We have learned about the local art, traditions and different activities being undertaken for the development of students in schools,” said Sharon Vobe, another teacher.

There are a number of differences between the present education systems between the two countries. Here in India, children are more eager to learn while children in Wales are more practically oriented where they learn mainly through the internet and smart boards.

“We are preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century as the world has now become a global village. We want to take education beyond classroom teaching and build up international relations so as to mould students into a global citizen,” said the headmistress of Kazibazar Government Girls’ High School, Susmita Sahu.

The representatives are eager to learn about the Indian education system, family bonding and cultural values. “To some extent, primary education is picking up thanks to the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan and we are looking forward for the amalgamation of trends in either country,” Sahu added.

Prabhat Mishra, the assistant director of the Orissa Primary Education Programme Authority, said: “This is a three-year programme that aims to enhance education experiences. Delegates from either country will also conduct a detailed study of culture through the exchange of ideas and submit a report to the British Council. Based on the report, one school each from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar will get the International School Award.”