In Manipur, there is a quiet revolution taking place within Government schools. In 2022, the STAR Education Program was introduced by the Manipur Education Department’s Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan as a key component of the Chief Minister’s School Fagathansi Mission. The program’s objective is to revolutionize the teaching and learning experience in Government schools throughout Manipur, with a visionary and long-term vision of improving teaching standards, enhancing learning outcomes, and ensuring equal access to quality education for all students.
Aligned with the CM’s School Fagathansi Mission, STAR Education encompasses 360-Degree Support Teams, Technology Platform Empowerment, Teacher Tablet Integration, Global Benchmarking, Teacher Trainings & Empowerment, and Continuous Monitoring & Feedback.
Since its initiation, STAR Education has demonstrated notable success. Initially implemented in 253 Government schools, the program impacted 24,290 students and 1,172 teachers across 16 districts. Ongoing assessments by the Manipur Government and the Education Department have shown significant progress in learning outcomes within the first 18 weeks of implementation, with nearly a fourfold acceleration in fluency outcomes and an 8% increase in numeracy skills compared to non-participating schools. Additionally, enrollment in STAR Education-supported schools has surged by 45% in the same period.
Building on this success, the STAR Education program is set to expand to an additional 108 schools, extending its positive influence. The program’s impact goes beyond Manipur, serving as a model for global educational reform. It combines local context with global benchmarks to prepare students for a competitive future on the global stage.
The program equips each Headmaster/Mistress with a smartphone synchronized with digital teaching guides, providing access to daily lesson plans. Teachers, armed with tablets, can access tailored guides for each class and grade, delivering carefully crafted lessons that meet the diverse learning needs of students at various academic levels. The success of STAR Education is also attributed to its focus on monitoring, feedback, and coaching, creating a continuous improvement cycle in classrooms. District-level supervisors and tech support teams play a crucial role in offering consistent assistance, enabling schools to overcome challenges effectively.
The commitment to transforming the state’s education system is evident in the ongoing monitoring of learning outcomes, a foundational element of the STAR Education program. The program places a strong emphasis on empowering teachers and headmasters through induction training, ensuring they receive consistent and expert support to deliver effective lessons, monitor student progress, and create engaging learning experiences.
STAR Education’s training approach is rooted in the principles of learning science and influenced by global insights gained over a decade. The carefully crafted multi-day intensive training sessions aim to provide government teachers in Manipur with essential tools, technology, and techniques tailored to the region’s educational context.The initial training, known as Teachers’ Induction Training, marks a transformative journey for educators. Up until 2023, more than 1300 teachers and 270 headmasters have undergone this training. As part of the program’s expansion, the current year has seen over 600 teachers and headmasters from 154 Government schools in 11 districts of Manipur undergoing Teachers’ Induction Training in 2024, Wave 1.
Conducted from January 30th to February 9th in the first wave of Induction training, the participating Government schools were situated in districts including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Ukhrul, Tameng-long, Kamjong, Noney, Tengnoupal, and Senapati. Throughout the Induction Training, Zonal Education Officers from Imphal East, Imphal West, Kamjong, Bishnupur, and Thoubal engaged with the teachers, expressing optimism about the positive impact of the training. Representatives from the Education Department, along with Additional Director, Samagra Shiksha, Smt. Khumukcham Renuka Devi, visited the training site, reinforcing the government’s commitment to enhancing Government schools. Their words of encouragement and support serve as a motivating force for both educators and students, underscoring the significance of collaborative efforts in fostering positive change in the education sector.
Source : Thesangaiexpress
