BaLA ( Building as Learning Aid)

The initiatives BaLA ( Building as Learning Aid ) was started in the district during August 2008. The major goal of Sarba Sikhya Programme is universal enrolment of all children in the age group of 6-14 , retention in school and provide quality education. Enrolment is school has increase more than 90 % with greater push but retention in school is major challenge in District Like Koraput where tribal population is around 50 % and tribal female literacy is 8.3 % only. In order to make the school environment more pleasant, reduce dropout, minimize absenteeism and increase activity based learning, the new initiative BaLA was launched with support of UNICEF. Major objectives : To design the whole school campus including school building in such a way that children could have opportunity to learn trough playing. Attract children towards school by making the whole campus a child friendly one. Promote activity based learning process, and increase peer learning opportunities. Beautification of campus by making the whole school a learning tool.

Target Group : Children Community Teacher Operational guideline & Methodology: Formation of interdisciplinary core group for planning and monitoring at the district level. Identify key quality issues to be addressed, with the focus on outcome. Identify demonstration sites with selection criteria for developing BALA activity in confidence within SSA and the community. Develop AWPs with quality and holistic planning in focus at Koraput Funds towards BaLA intervention was sourced from different planning heads from within SSA and UNICEF. Review of existing school and classroom design(s) and modify them to suit the learning process. Developing whole school planning capacity for existing and new schools with BaLA components through workshops at Koraput District level. 1

Implementation of School transformation through BaLA plan in select schools in Koraput (2 in each block, initially [first part of year], followed by 2-3 in each block [second part of year], eventually totaling 50 schools in district).

Key highlights of the initiative are: Actively involvement of the children at different stages in planning and implementation. This involvement has helped in developing the whole school plans, in observing and helping the artisans who finally come to work in the school. Development of artisan skills at the cluster or block level (as the case may be) to create child friendly and learning enabling environment such that they become service providers in future for expansion as well as maintenance. Fund Requirements: As per the design approved by the district level core group, it was budgeted Rs. 30,000/- per school to implement the programme.Besides that, it required district level orientation programme for the teachers. Implementation & Supervision: BaLA has been implemented in140 schools of S.S.A, Koraput with support from Unicef. The fund was placed in the respective school accounts and the H.M was instructed to ensure all BaLA activities with support of community and VEC. The process was closely monitored by the civil section of SSA, Koraput. All field level support were given by the Technical Consultants. Achievements: Attendance has increased School campus has been changed to a play ground even after school hour Minimum level of learning standard improved among the children. Sustainability This joint initiative of SSA, and Unicef has been appraised and appreciated at State level. This is now under the consideration of the Government of Orissa to implement this in all other districts. of Odisha. In future SSA may take the responsibility to implement BaLA in all schools.