Lokmanya Tilak Vidyamandir, Chikhalgaon
On 1st August 1984 Loksadhana started it’s secondary school for 5th to 10th standard. Secondary School in Loksadhana is the hub of unlimited opportunities. The school focuses on vocational education and is proud to be the first vocational education school in the state of Maharashtra. The school is unique because of features like subject based classrooms, tradition of 100% result, Mock Gramsabha, Anubhav Mandapam, career guidance workshops, competitive examination preparations etc.
Subject based Classrooms (Mobile Classrooms):
At Lokmanya Tilak Vidyamandir, the concept of mobile classroom is different from the modern definition of mobile classrooms (electronic classrooms). At Lokmanya Tilak Vidyamandir, Chikhalgaon, there is one classroom dedicated to each subject rather than allocation one classroom for every standard. Books of subjects are kept in the respective classrooms. The students can read these books whenever there is a free period. Since, classroom needs to be changed after every period, students do not get bored. They get a chance to move out of the classroom after every subject. This keeps them very active.
Blackboard for learning
The teachers of Lokmanya Tilak Vidyamandir, Chikhalgaon feel that students should develop a habit of expression right from this age. The students usually hesitate from expressing what runs in their mind. They have fear that their thoughts will not be accepted. The school runs a program called “Abhivyakti Phalak’ which means ‘Expression Board’. The students write their thoughts related to the sentence which has been written on the board. For example: If it rains tomorrow ……..or Zero means ……. Students use their imagination power to complete these sentences.
Dictionary/ Vocabulary
There are many words which kids come across in their day-to-day usage. However, sometimes they don’t know or they don’t understand real meaning of words. Example what is difference between Love and Attraction? The words which are used casually in every day life can have deep meanings. This leaves the kids confused. Hence they themselves write down a word on the board and they themselves search the meaning of the word.
These programs are organised by the students themselves.
Poetry and Pictionary
A lot of kids in the school write poems. They get an opportunity to present their poem in the classroom. The peotry is written in one of the boards in the classroom. This helps to develop liking about the poetry in the kids.
Similarly, kids are encouraged to describe a picture. This develops their thinking and observation capacity. Especially, if some topic from the curriculum is expressed as a picture, the kids will understand that topic remember it completely.
In addition to this giving a name to one’s poetry or drawing a picture for one’s poetry helps the students to express themselves.
Anubhav Mandapam (Experience platform):
Every Saturday students participate in the experience platform. They make a circle and each person comes forward and shares his or her experiences. This platform helps the students to freely express themselves.
Parent-teacher Communication
Every teacher acts as a communication head of one village situated in the periphery of the school. He is present during various programs in the village. He is responsible to understand the concerns of the students and their parents and conduct workshops for overall rural development. He guides the villagers regarding modern practices of agriculture. He conducts blood donation camps and cultural programs in the village. Participation is a very important factor in this program.
Rice Plantation and Crop competition:
Every teacher acts as a communication head of one village situated in the periphery of the school. He is present during various programs in the village. He is responsible to understand the concerns of the students and their parents and conduct workshops for overall rural development. He guides the villagers regarding modern practices of agriculture. He conducts blood donation camps and cultural programs in the village. Participation is a very important factor in this program.
Mr. Maruti Thorat
Principal, Lokmanya Tilak Vidya Mandir
Mr. Maruti Thorat has been teaching at Lokmanya Tilak Vidya Mandir Chikhalgaon for last 32 years. He says, “He has got an opportunity to build a unique relationship with students and parents. He has learnt a lot from them.” He has been Principal of Lokmanya Tilak Vidya Mandir since last 3 years. He truly enjoys to work with the Loksadhana Family.
Group Discussion
After studying a particular topic the children avoid answering the questions below the chapter. In reality, they haven’t understood the subject completely. To aid in better understanding of the topic, students are divided in various groups. They then figure out the answers through group discussion. This helps to develop leadership, cooperation, teamwork skills in the students. This is the reason why group discussion is very important when it comes to studying and learning.
Local Newspaper
A lot of good and bad incidents keep happening in and around the village. The students themselves write these down the news and stories. They learn how to describe a news or an incident or how to narrate a story while doing this exercise. The students of standard 9th run this program and publish the newspaper.
Meditation
The school conducts meditation class during exams. This helps the students to improve concentration and build confidence.
Thinking Meet-up
This meet-up is for the teachers and volunteers who work for the trust. Everyone gets a chance to speak about their favourite topic. There is a lot of learning opportunity. The teachers get guidance about every topic. This helps them to be creative in their teaching.