STEP Annual Report 2014-2015 - MANTRA's School Transformation and Empowerment Project
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Transcript of STEP Annual Report 2014-2015 - MANTRA's School Transformation and Empowerment Project
Our journey to transform schools and empower stakeholders, one step at a time
[ Annual Report 2014-15 ]
‘School Transformation and Empowerment Project’ (STEP) is an initiative of MANTRA Social Services – Bangalore
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1 STEP Introduction
What is STEP?
STEP Project Frame work
STEP Vision, Mission and 3 year Goals
IN THIS REPORT
2 STEP Project Details (May 2014 - April 2015)
Key activities
- Stage 1 Fact File & Key Learning
- Stage 2 Fact File
- Stage 2 Key Activities - Progress & Outcomes
3 STEP Call To Action Our Team & Core Values
Our SupportersHow Can You Help?
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FOREWORD
MANTRA Social Services - Bangalore is a social enterprise registered under Section 25 ofCompanies Act. Founded by a team of committed and passionate individuals in 2012 andgrowing in strength, MANTRA believes in the need for an association of like-minded peopleand organizations/movements to inspire action and sustain change efforts.
Through the School Transformation and Empowerment Project(STEP), we strive to promotequality education in schools serving the socio-economically disadvantaged population ofthe country. This report captures our work on the ground hitherto – highlighting the firstyear of STEP, our key learning and strategic intent going forward. The journey so far hasonly strengthened our conviction in the cause and belief in the potential of STEP to evolveinto a scalable solution.
Hope this report gives you an imperative to join us in this journey for education equity.
RegardsTeam MANTRA
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STEP Introduction
School Transformation and Empowerment Project(STEP) is an initiative of MANTRA, designed to improve andpromote quality in existing under-resourced schools, servingthe socio-economically disadvantaged localities in the city.
Through a multi staged School Improvement Framework andholistic approach, STEP intends to bring in coherence toschool-wide activities aimed at re-defining and improving thequality of outcomes expected at partner schools.
In the current academic year (2014-2015), MANTRAengaged with 9 schools for the first stage of STEP of needassessment and observation report. Following this, weentered into a two year, focused partnership with 3 low-feeprivate schools and 3 government run schools to planand implement the next stage of STEP.
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The framework* is flexible and first stage of STEP will determine if the partner school will go through each stage and module or if it will pick particular tools that are relevant to their needs. Each of the school profile presents varying degrees of advantages and challenges(of cost, human capital, capacity, political will and efficacy), in turn aiding innovation and integration of tools/processes that will enable cost-effective implementation of STEP into similar schools in coming years.
* MANTRA currently refers to the ‘School Improvement Planning Framework’ (© TDA) which is the developed by the TDA - Training and Development Agency for Schools-UK
STEP Project Framework
The project framework* sets out STEP planning process in three stages -Prepare and engage, Identify objectives and Ensure successful outcomes – with modules in each stage focusing on particular aspects of school transformation.
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Holistic approach towards energizing the
school ecosystem
We realize the context of each school is different and our
strategic intent is to devise scalable & replicable solutions
for our schools through the following steps:
A thorough diagnosis of each school to zero-in
on underlying factors contributing to the school’s
current status(of learning outcomes) and to
question status quo
A design-thinking approach to “connect –engage
– integrate – sustain” change efforts involving all
four stakeholders - teachers, students, school
leadership and parent community
Collaborating on an action plan with goals and
sub-goals to create ‘conditions for effectiveness’
across seven key-levers that influence the quality
school’s outcomes
STEP APPROACH
To engage with underachieving schools(and its stakeholders) through a multi-stageschool improvement framework that enables successful outcomes and empowerssuch schools to serve as pathway of opportunity for every child
Innovate and integrate system-wide processes and tools that equipstakeholders(school leaders, parents, teachers and students), enhance existingimprovement activities and sustain change efforts to ensure successful outcomesbeyond the two-year intervention cycle
STEP VISION
Every school delivers what a child deserves - quality education
STEP MISSION
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To impact 16 schools and 6400 children through STEP by 2017,ensuring that each school
– delivers quality affordable education in the face of demanding environment and constraints,through better processes, tools and school-wide systems
– guarantees improved learning outcome that rely less on curricular or infrastructural changeand more on teacher efficacy and methodology
To be engaged with a wide array of schools and build a passionate core team that leads to
– replicable and cost-effective implementation, enabling STEP expansion to impact 92 schools(and in turn 36800 children) by 2020
– creating proof points and raising the bar for quality of outcomes across similar schools, in turndriving system level changes for affordable education
Benchmarking academic outcomes and competency framework for teacher effectiveness in partner schools
STEP - Project Goals: 3 years
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YEAR 2 STRATEGIC INTENT
#1Pilot the use of STEP School Status Rubric* as a school self-evaluation tool and in turn identify the merits and key gaps in using this for under-served private/government schools
#2Pilot and evaluate various personalized tools and processes that enables
such schools as our partner schools to meet quality standards and outcomes indicated by national or state level quality accreditation frameworks*
#3Identify an effective and reliable measurement and analysis system for tracking progress and gaps in STEP intervention and it’s effect on key stakeholders
#4Benchmark academic outcomes for students and competencies for teacher effectiveness in similar schools through ongoing evaluation and analysis of teaching-learning process in partner schools
*MANTRA’s STEP School Status Rubric refers to the SQAAF( School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Form) and KSQAAC (Karnataka
School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Council) list various indicators and sub-indicators for quality through measurement rubrics
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Stage-1: Prepare and Engage
of Need Analysis To ‘Prepare and Engage’, stage 1 involved a need analysis focused on gathering qualitative and quantitative information across various parameters affecting the school. It also gives us the opportunity to connect and start building relationships with the school team.
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STEP Stage-1 Fact File
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Stage 1: Key Learning at School Level (all schools)
1. VISION &
MISSION
2. TEACHING-
LEARNING
PROCESS
3. PARENT
ENGAGEMENT
Schools do not have a
defined vision-mission that
drives day-to-day activities
Teachers pre-dominantly
use text-book based and
rote methods for teaching
Schools have some form of
interface with the parent
community
However, the parent
community is low on self-
esteem; they lack clarity
regarding student's
learning outcomes and
quality in teaching
However, in reflection,
School Leader is able to
share in a compelling way
his/her vision for quality
education and is self-
driven
However, School leader
and teachers believe that
with adequate space,
resources and additional
support, new methods
can be implemented
Our interviews and observations highlight significant gaps that must be addressed to enable any plan for improvement in the school system. There are six factors that have been identified and prioritized.
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Stage 1: Key Learning - Government Vs. Private School
5. ONGOING TRAINING
& SUPPORT
Skilled teachers capable of imparting quality lessons are a part of the school system. There is still a gap in the effectiveness of teaching-learning experience process for students
Government schools have formal feedback mechanism to analyze need for improvement, however there is no process for setting goals or tracking progress.
There is adequate training and support in government schools. However there is a lack of follow-up and follow through mechanism for successful implementation
6. TEACHER
SKILL Vs. WILL
4. QUALITY &
IMPROVEMENT PLAN
The private schools lacked any formal feedback mechanism to analyze school’s current status and need for improvement.
Private school teachers received minimal or no training support. Apart from candid feedback from HMs there wasn’t any additional support relevant to their needs
Most schools place untrained teachers on roll, who lack strong teaching skills. They seemed willing to learn but the pressure of completing syllabus overpowers their will
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Stage 2: Identify Objectives & Ensure Successful Outcomes
The next stage of STEP in each schools started with ‘Identifying Objectives’ and ‘Prioritizing Solutions’
Based on the first stage of STEP and the key factors identified, MANTRA and school team determine activities in each module or will pick particular tools that are relevant to their needs.
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STEP Stage-2
Fact File
The focus during Stage 2 was on immersion at the school-site - to be a part of the school team and strengthen
relationships with stakeholders This helped identify key levers for intervention, both inside and outside the
classroom. This also helped gauge the 'learning potential' of the school team to prioritize solutions and plan
delivery and evaluation of interventions.
Quality time was also spent on strengthening MANTRA's core team and competencies through focused learning and partnerships. This
further helped the team in developing and prioritizing solutions. This also provided scope for innovating tools and processes that will be
integral in STEP intervention in the long term. 19
“Management is doing
things right;
leadership is doing
the right things.”
Peter F. Drucker
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Stage 2: School Leadership Engagement - Key Activities
#1Ongoing discussions with school leader, involving school self-evaluation and reflection debriefs on School Status and School Culture
Weekly work-time with Government school HMs - modeling processes and tools for overall efficiency of the school as an organization
Two days of Sharing and Collaboration platform for School leaders to co-create vision, goals and action plan for quality improvement and collective action next academic year
#2
#3
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Stage 2: School Leadership Engagement - Progress & Outcomes
100%School HMs Strongly Agreed that they had opportunities
to learn and grow as a part of MANTRA's intervention
School Leaders were engaged on
building effective processes during planned activities
Government School Leaders, Cluster Resource Persons(CRP) and
Block Resource Persons(BRP) attended the session and
expressed it was purposeful use of their time
100%
100%
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Strategic Intent for Next Stage (Year 2) – For School Level Change
100%STEP school leaders will craft a strong
vision-mission for their school AND
he/she will display the will, skill and authority to achieve the same
100%STEP school partner schools will
implement school-wide systems that will
drive a positive school culture and
improvement efforts with a sense of urgency
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“Tell me and I forget,
teach me and I may
remember, involve me
and I learn.”
Benjamin Franklin
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Stage 2: Teacher Engagement - Key Activities
96 Hours of fun-filled interaction and
orientation to STEP for all teachers
(110 teachers across 6 schools)
> 97%Teacher attendance at sessions and
over 90% teachers expressedvisible excitement about their
school’s partnership with MANTRA
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12 Hours of training on a high-need 'English Reading
Improvement Program' for target classrooms and
6 weeks’ ongoing support, across all 6 schools
> 90%teachers reported positive outcomes, with improved classroom engagementand visible changes in willingness to learn from students
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Stage 2: Teacher Engagement - Key Activities
48 Hours of rigorous knowledge-skills training,
focused on behavior management and pedagogy followed by 6 week ongoing support - for target group of teachers at private schools.
100% attendance of target group of teachers.
Participant teachers reported strong knowledge & use of learned skills and reported
increased attentiveness of students 88%
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Stage 2: Teacher Engagement - Key Activities
16Hours of workshop in each private partner school on
Planning Purposefully, giving teachers opportunity to
collaborate at planning level and teaching-learning
practices within classrooms.
95% attendance of target group of teachers
Participant teachers demonstrated
new methods of planning to better meet the needs of their students
100%
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Stage 2: Teacher Engagement - Key Activities
Strategic Intent for Next Stage (Year 2) – For Effective Teaching-Learning
> 80% teachers will step into the classrooms
with a vision for student learning and will be informed by
academic benchmarks relevant to current
learning levels and a long-term plan to meet the goals.
> 80% of identified(high-need)
classrooms will have successful
academic intervention aimed at
achieving MLL(Minimum Learning Levels) in Reading
and Math
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Photo collage “Never doubt that a
small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can
change the world;
Indeed, it's the only thing
that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
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Stage 2: Community/Stakeholder Engagement
Key Activities Progress and Outcomes
Restructuring the School development and Monitoring committee.
Planning periodic and structured SDMC meetings
Infrastructure support through community engagement
Currently all the SDMCs are working at less than 50% of their specified strength. We have invited interested parents to be part of the committee for the school improvement plan.
Working with School leaders to provide structure to SDMC meetings. Getting a year long schedule for SDMC meetings and also having agenda for SDMC meetings
Got a separate Library and a computer lab set up in Government Urdu School. Also got KP Agrahara GovtSchool Painted and repaired.
Strategic Intent for Year 2 - For Empowered SDMC and Effective Community Engagement
100% SDMC will have at least 10 active members. SDMC members will Interface with and involveparents and community/external stakeholders to drive accountability and catalyze change efforts
Provide additional support with personalized processes and tools to build accountability, trackprogress and inform critical decisions for effective use of Library and Computer labs.
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Develop Strategic Plan and begin STEP intervention in 4 partner schools
Approach external stakeholders, including NGOs, Universities and government bodies for strategic partnership
Annual report and Team MANTRA step-back to review strategic plan
Pre-work for STEP partner schools (2015-2016)
An overview of MANTRA’s timeline for the past academic year (May 2014 – April 2015)
WE ARE HERE
THE YEAR GONE BY
Pre-work for STEP project
NEED ANALYSIS of identified affordable private schools
Develop and prioritize solutions for each partner school.
Pilot programs both inside and outside the classroom; including teacher training and reading program
MoU to pilot STEP intervention in 3 Government run schools
May - June 2014
July-Sept 2014
Oct - Nov 2014 Jan - March 2015
April 2015
Crowd-funding efforts to sustain STEP activities
Collaborate with school leadership to plan delivery and evaluation of various interventions.
Identify and leverage stakeholder (parents & community) to bring in accountability
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An ex-Teach for India fellow (2009-11),
Anoop is an engineer who pursued his
search of equity in education. He has been
on the program staff at TFI experience for 2
years and has worked with Isha Vidhya
Rural Schools before joining the team at
MANTRA.
A management graduate from Kellogg School
of Management, Charag was previously the
CSR coordinator with Bharath Petroleum
(BPCL), Mumbai. He undertook 2-year long
Teach for India fellowship to explore the
grass-root issues in school education.
Khushboo is a management graduate from Tata Institute of
Social Science (TISS, Mumbai) and has 5+ years of work
experience across IT, Healthcare and development sector. She
has handled varied roles in product management, strategy,
operations and marketing.
Rishi is a co-founder of MANTRA and is an incorrigible
technology enthusiast. A Software Architect with around
9+ years’ of work experience, he has initiated and
architected multiple solutions that are related to Search
Engines, ETL and open source technologies.
Santosh is a mechanical engineer, who chased his passion of improving
quality in school education. A co-founder at MANTRA, Santosh has 7+
years of work experience across IT and development sector. He was a Teach
for India fellow from the first cohort and next, he worked as a Program
Manager at Janaagraha centre for Citizenship and Democracy, Bangalore.
OUR TEAM
An engineering graduate, Medha chose to join
Teach for India fellowship to pursue her
passion for education equity. She has worked
with INKTalks, Google India and Gray
Matters Capital on internet awareness and
blended learning program.
We are committed to
learning and continuous
improvement to achieve
excellence. The process
takes time; we do not give
up. There is no such thing as
a mistake if we learn from it
We see and make efficient use of
resources everywhere.
We proactively seek out creative
solutions to overcome challenges in
resource constrained environments.
We take care of ourselves and those around us. We
maintain respect for each other and the communities
we serve. We value different experiences and
perspectives.
OUR CORE VALUES
Our experiences this year on the ground has helped us identify 3 core values that drive our actions.
RESOURCEFULNESS
LEARNING
EMPATHY
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Sanjay Purohit, CEO and Managing Director at
EdgeVerve Systems Limited,
a wholly owned subsidiary of
Infosys Limited
Sudhir K Joshi, Ex-Director, Finance,
Bharath Petroleum Corp. Limited
Swati and Ramesh
Ramanathan, Founders, Janaagraha Centre
for Citizenship and Democracy,
a non-profit focused on
transforming quality of
life in Urban India
Vishal Poddar, Vice President,
JP Morgan Chase,
Hong Kong
OUR SUPPORTERS
OUR CROWD-FUND SUPPORTERS
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With 135 supporters, MANTRA raised INR 5 Lakhs through Crowdfunding.
Thilak
Saily
Do you believe in the social impact of quality education?
Do you think that an association of like minded people can actually change the course of history?
Do you feel that the time and the opportunity is right here and now?
Join our movement to ensure that every child in this country gets access to quality education. Share our vision. Help us grow & function and help us keep our momentum.
RaisedINR 10,00,000
GoalINR 32,00,000
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Support a School INR 5,00,000
Ways,
you can helpSupport projects within
partner schools
Connect us to like-minded
individuals
Create corpus Fund
> INR 50,00,000
e.g. library in classrooms, computer labs etc
[email protected]@mantra4change.com
(91)-810 586 1047(91)-9731 789 611
For feedback and further details
Lets talk about solutions..!
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