Lucknow, Sep 26, 2024: DEVI Sansthan has launched a global learning hub, aiming at strengthening teacher training and fostering collaborations for the ALfA (Accelerated Learning for All) pedagogy, a cutting-edge approach recognized as one of the most relevant teaching methodologies today.
The 14th Ed Leadership, hosted by DEVI Sansthan, kicked off recently with the inauguration of the First Global Learning Lab by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh. This event was hosted by City Montessori School, Lucknow and Dr Bharti Gandhi along with Dr Sunita Gandhi at the World Unity Convention Center.
With a mission to drive India towards the NIPUN Bharat mission of universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27, the Global Learning Lab will highlight strategies and training that empower teachers to make learning more impactful and engaging for young learners. Educators from 15 Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Assam, Odisha, and Chattisgarh, and International educators from 7 countries – the US, the Maldives, Kenya, Ghana, Malaysia, Peru and Nepal – participated in the 3-day event.
Brajesh Pathak expressed his pride in acknowledging the remarkable efforts of Dr Sunita Gandhi and the entire team at DEVI Sansthan, both within India and globally. He emphasized the Uttar Pradesh government's commitment to revolutionizing education throughout the state. Highlighting the importance of partnerships between government initiatives and innovative solutions like ALfA, he underscored their role in ensuring every child, regardless of their location, receives access to quality education and opportunities for success. "The Uttar Pradesh government pledges its support to DEVI Sansthan in their mission to enhance education in the state", he said.
Manoj Kumar Singh emphasized the critical role of education in shaping the future of any nation. He remarked, "Education is the cornerstone of both developed and developing countries. In Uttar Pradesh alone, we have around 138,000 state primary schools with approximately 7 lakh teachers educating over 2 crore children. With 15% of the state's total budget allocated to education, it's crucial to assess whether we are achieving the right outcomes. Are students from state primary schools equipped to compete with those from other institutions? There's a pressing need to restructure our educational system. The new pedagogy introduced by DEVI Sansthan will undoubtedly contribute to this transformation, serving as a valuable supplement, though not a substitute, to traditional learning."
The first Global Learning Lab showcased an innovative child-led paired learning model. This new pedagogy is expected to empower Indian classrooms and help students complete their curriculum in half the time, driving rapid progress in FLN. India needs 11,16,846 new teachers for the next three years if it’s to make up the shortfall and cater to new student enrolments. Education system is at the threshold of a complete flip. This is the most opportune time to matter.
Dr Sunita Gandhi, Founder of DEVI Sansthan, emphasized the mission of Synergy Summit 3.0 and the Global Learning Lab, stating, "The focus is on creating a significant transformation in the education system. We’ve identified the educational goals that need to be achieved and brought together strong representation from across India and internationally. The goal is to unite experts and leaders in education to collaboratively reform the system, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to receive quality education and excel in their learning journey."
The inaugural day also witnessed government representatives from schools from Lucknow, Unnao, and Barabanki sharing their experiences on the ALfA (Accelerated Learning for All) Pedagogy in their regions. Lalita Pradeep, Former Director of Education for Uttar Pradesh, remarked, "Any approach that promotes learning is a valuable pedagogy. The DEVI Sansthan's focus on quick learning will enhance student proficiency and contribute to achieving the SDG goals."
The Synergy Summit 3.0 which is also underway has brought leadership from prominent organizations like the Tata Steel Foundation, Adani Foundation, Hindalco Aditya Birla Foundation, Kotak Mahindra Foundation, The World Bank, HCL Tech, and NCERT. Over 4,000 participants will engage in the summit and the 14th Ed Leadership Conference in the coming days, with a strong focus on accelerating India’s journey towards achieving the NIPUN Bharat Mission – the national mission aimed at universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27. The event runs from September 23rd to 25th, 2024.
Kanupriya Misra from World Bank while speaking at the event shared, “We at the World Bank are committed to help Governments In India and across the world to improve the FLN. According to Learning Poverty, children in India are not able to read by the age of 10, this is an emergency that needs to be tackled. It has to be a collective effort with the government, Public Sector, Pvt Sector and associations like DEVI Sansthan to come together to find a solution which will ensure the children are educated.”
