JOIN USTech Mahindra Foundation (TMF), the CSR arm of the technology company Tech Mahindra Limited, along with the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), recently launched a toll-free helpline number 1800-11-2028 that is aimed to address the issues of teaching and learning in government schools and classrooms.
With this initiative, teachers would now have access to a dedicated team of experts and specialists, who would assist them with their everyday challenges they face in their classrooms.
Through the helpline, teachers would also be exposed to a wide range of subject matter and resources, which would equip them to be more professional and competent educators.
The EDMC directly runs 390 primary schools in the East Delhi area, which cater to more than 2.24 lakh children, taught by around 5,600 teachers.
The foundation had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EDMC to develop a model ‘In-Service Teacher Education Institute (ITEI)’ in a public-private-partnership mode in April 2013.
In the past 18 months, the institute has trained more than 900 teachers and 220 principals and the helpline for teachers is a part of the institute.
Speaking on the launch of the helpline, Dr Loveleen Kacker, CEO, Tech Mahindra Foundation said, “The toll-free helpline is part of our Shikshaantar programme, which is an initiative for developing an effective in-service teacher education system. We firmly believe that the quality of teaching is one of the major determining factors that ensures retention of children in schools, and we hope this helpline can work towards
its betterment.”
K Vijayan, director, Education, EDMC said, “Since its inception, ITEI has been working very well. Many teachers attended the training and the feedback we got from the teachers was very encouraging. We will try to reach out to more and more teachers to join the institute and call the helpline for their future assistance.”
The fully-functional helpline has significantly extended the outreach of the In-Service Teacher Education Institute by breaking barriers of time, space and distance that often limit frequent, large-scale training sessions. It marks the beginning of integration of cost-effective services of the institute.
One of the teachers, Chhavi Gemini, teaching at Nigam Pratibha Vidyalaya, Shashtri Park Extension, said, “I always felt a need for such help in the past. For example, at times we have some concept in mind, which is clear in your head, but you are not able to explain it to the students. And here such a helpline number comes into the picture. There are various queries also, related to the higher authorities and students, which we can’t discuss with others. So, we can call this helpline and take ideas and tips. Teachers can also call and ask for tips on anger management.”
Another teacher, Brijesh Jadon, said, “While teaching there are so many subjects on which we teachers need help. And people sitting on the other side are all experts who can give me expert opinion on my queries and help enhance my teaching skills. They will give us solutions on the spot.”