Representative file image of students | photo credit: ss kumar
West Bengal has launched a unique program under which government schools in every locality will be brought together to share resources and collaborative learning.
Under this initiative called ‘Hub of Learning’, which is being launched in Kolkata, eight to 10 schools will be mapped together, with one of them acting as a ‘hub’ and the rest as ‘spoke’ schools. Will do
“For example, if a school lacks a computer lab, students may go to another nearby school to take lessons in the subject”Krishnakoli RaiHeadmistress of Dhakuria Sri Ramakrishna Vidyapeeth for Girls in Kolkata
An order in this regard was issued earlier this month and will come into force when schools reopen after summer vacation next month.
“This is a wonderful initiative that will, hopefully, maximize the scope for resource-sharing between the schools. The neighborhood schools will be transformed into educational institutions other than their own,” said Krishnakoli Ray, headmistress of the Dhakuria Sri Ramakrishna Vidyapith for Girls in Kolkata. Will get the benefit of infrastructure.
“For example, if a school lacks a computer lab, students can go to another school nearby to take lessons in the subject. This will ensure resource optimization within the hub or cluster so that the government does not need to create separate facilities for everything.”
“If implemented properly, it can solve many issues related to lack of infrastructure in schools. While the institutions will benefit from sharing teachers, labs etc., it will be an exciting adventure for the students, where they will be able to visit other schools and learn from other teachers,” said Ms. Ray, whose institution, Nine Along with others, Kasba Girls’ High School will be as their ‘hub’ schools.
According to the state government, while ‘hub’ schools will be poised to lead under this arrangement, there may be instances whereby they too may benefit from practices being followed in ‘spoke’ schools.
sybiotically beneficial
“Such a platform can be symbolically beneficial for all the institutions involved,” the official order said, listing the objectives of the project, “promoting partnerships between schools; sharing of infrastructure and human resources; sharing the institutional method of learning; collaborative learning; improving the efficiency of teachers; and promoting togetherness by facilitating the joint operation of various student and staff activities.
The ‘hub’ school will be either a government school or a reputed government sponsored/aided school, preferably a higher secondary school, but not below a secondary school. The ‘spoke’ schools would be high performing higher secondary/secondary schools or having relatively good infrastructure like library, laboratories and e-learning facilities.
Schools around the hub will be selected by a district committee and a ‘hub’ school will be mapped with 8-10 ‘spoke’ schools. One school will remain the mentor/hub for a year or two, after which one of the ‘spoke’ schools will become the ‘hub’.