Kerala’s Program Uses Music and Sports to Prevent Dropouts!

From Beach to School Bench: Kerala’s Unique Strategy to Keep Fishermen’s Children in School

Kerala, compared to other states of India, has a high rate of literacy and education, with almost 90% of Keralites being educated. But ironically the situation is not similar for children from its coastal regions who are a part of communities of fishermen, who constantly fear cyclones, tsunamis, and other natural calamities and depend primarily on fishing for their living. Consequently, many of these families exhibit a notable lack of interest in education and want to pursue fishing as their occupation. To support children in these communities and provide school education for their holistic development, the "Beach to Bench" program was launched by Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), the government agency tasked with universalizing school education in the state, as part of a broader national initiative. This program selects 30 students from different classes according to their social background, academic standing, and school drop-out ratio and conducts a foundational literacy and numeracy test administered by the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SS identifies the pupils that require further support).

SSK assured these children participate in activities to improve their numeracy, reading, and writing abilities. St. Philomena’s Girls High School, a private-aided institution, was among the first to pilot this project in the state in March 2023, where children from impoverished coastal communities in Poonthura, Thiruvananthapuram took special classes. Although Classes 1 through 10 are the target audience for the program, St. Philomena's concentrates on Classes 6 through 8, offering one-hour sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, as well as a three-hour session on Saturdays. The customized classes also provide a variety of activities. Pupils can experiment with keyboards and violins, learn how to make crafts and arts and crafts, and play games like chess, football, volleyball, and badminton. They are encouraged to participate in art projects, sports, dance, singing, and even puppetry, which adds a lively and artistic element to their education. The project's goal at Poonthura's St. Philomena's Girls High School is to give students an entertaining and engaging learning experience and increase parental understanding of the value of education.

The General Education Minister of Kerala, V. Sivankutty, announced plans to extend this program to the state's nine coastal districts in July. Sreekumar S, district project officer for Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), mentioned that the initiative helps talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds who often fall behind due to social issues, allows to setting up of learning centers for academic support and emphasizes parent involvement to prevent dropouts. Cluster coordinator Diana RM observed that the program's creative blend of music and sports deeply engages the children. They are excited to try new instruments like violins and keyboards, and they eagerly participate in sports such as chess, badminton, and football. The enthusiasm is so strong that even non-participants have shown interest in joining the activities.

Sreeja BU, a volunteer in education, saw that these initiatives have produced favorable outcomes and raised student confidence. To keep parents updated on their children's academic progress, higher secondary students may be required to keep diaries and get signatures from their parents on occasion. Joffrey, an SSK coordinator, emphasized that the program assists in identifying unique abilities that can go unnoticed, such as singing or communication skills.

Editor’s Note:

Kerala is writing a new chapter in the educational landscape by addressing the educational challenges faced by children from fishermen’s families. Through the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) program, students in coastal districts are provided with enriching experiences in music, sports, and art. This approach not only helps prevent school dropouts but also inspires a renewed interest in education. By engaging students with activities they are passionate about, the program aims to bridge gaps in foundational literacy and numeracy while fostering a supportive learning environment. As Kerala expands this innovative effort, it offers a hopeful model for integrating creative and academic support to uplift vulnerable communities.
 

Skoobuzz applauds Samagra Shiksha Kerala for its commitment to universal education and for taking significant steps to ensure that every child has access to learning opportunities.