INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Of

ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
on
IMPROVING RURAL EDUCATION
on
10-12 OCTOBER 2005
at
ANGEL MATRICULATION HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,
THIRUNINRAVUR, NEAR CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU

ABSTRACTS OF THE PAPERS

Literacy for All in Rural Areas

 

Fiby Raj,A, SS Lecturer, Annammal College of Education for Women, Tuticorin - 628 003.

 

India will be a developed country in  2020   is the dream of every Indian, the dream ignited and nursed by the president of India, Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam. A leap towards this stride could be achieved only if all the citizens of India are provided with quality education at least to the minimum level. Therefore ‘educational for all’ particularly in the rural area is the watch word and key aspiration of every Indian. We give importance to rural education because more than 60% of our populations live in rural India.  The three major challenges in achieving this is equality of educational opportunities, quality of education, and poverty. .It has been the national commitment to achieve objective of Literacy for all by 2000 A.D which had been significant in the National Policy on Education (NPE) 1986 and enunciated in the Programme of Action. Every one teach one  can bring a drastic change in the mission of attaining this goal. Education for All (EFA) 2000 Assessment Report positively referred to features like accelerated growth of literacy rates, Male- Female literacy gap showing a convergent trend (though the gap is still larger) and participation of girls in schooling showing significant increase.  The teachers of rural areas have little or no exposure to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and they remain isolated from technical pursuit of knowledge. Teachers with a passion for teaching are those who are committed, enthusiastic and intellectually and emotionally energetic in their work with children, young people and adults alike. So we require teachers with passion and technology savvy to teach all types of students for life long learning. Only technology can bring education to the door steps of every individual.

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An Effective Functioning Model for Heads of Rural Schools

 

Francisca,S  Reader,  St. Ignatius College of Education, Tirunelveli - 627 002, Vijaya Somasundaram, Lecturer, Department of Management Studies, Infant Jesus College of Engineering, Keelavallanadu, District. Tuticorin & Beulah Shekhar, Lecturer, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli - 627 012

 

This theoretical paper addresses the need for a comprehensive model for Principals in their effective functioning and reorientation into school environments. In view of this the researchers examine the fundamental issues to be considered prior to systematizing a training program for heads of rural schools. The issues identified were, the factors affecting performance, if such factors can be considered in isolation and the skill requirements in view of the identified factors. This paper looks into the above-mentioned areas with relevance to the Principals in rural schools. There is a need to create awareness among Principals about the existence and interaction the predominant factors both within themselves, the school organization and the external environment that can have a large say in their effective functioning and the need for different types of skills and behaviors expected of them according to these interactions. Providing a model of awareness that identifies four critical dimensions like level of awareness, leadership style, type of learning organization and socio-cultural and political environment, the authors suggest that effective functioning of Principals is possible by developing specific skills for each combination of factors along these four dimensions. An effective-functioning model for the Principals of rural schools that takes into purview a number of significant factors affecting the school Principal and which ultimately would provide awareness of the interplay of these factors in their functioning was evolved.  The researchers envisage that the framework provided would ensure a clear insight in dealing with the variables like control, goals, decisions, communication, motivation and leadership.

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