Jul
Teach Lead Transform – Teach for India
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In the following article I have mentioned a unique socio-educational movement supported by some of the brightest minds of India – Teach for India. With the motto of “Teach Lead Transform”, Teach for India (referred to as TFI hereafter) aims to narrow the educational gap in India by making ends meet, the needy children and the young teachers. They give the educated minds to enlighten the underprivileged. It is a unique movement that will create ripples in the not-so-equal education scenario in India.
In a way, we the people reading/writing blogs on the internet are lucky because of the opportunities we get, a very important one being quality education while a large section of young India does not even get primary education. I hear a lot from people that India has right for education and the government allocates a lot of funds and schemes for primary education, but somewhere a part of those people will also agree that the uneducated lot is bound – bound by money or social stigma. Here I will not stress on what is wrong with the education system or what should be done to fix it but I will introduce to you the Teach for India movement with which you can help create a big impact on the society by putting together small efforts.
Teach for India is modeled on the lines of Teach for America and Teach for All funded by the Clinton Global Initiative. A known fact of the education system in India is that – Out of every 100 children in India, 15 will never attend school. Of those who attend school, 50% will drop out before Class V. Most of us hear such facts and then ignore them while TFI cites a central reason for this state of educational inequity in India to be the shortage of quality teachers, and a system of rote learning in many schools that impedes critical thinking and other important skills that students should learn in the classroom. To build this movement of future leaders, TFI recruits recent graduates and young professionals to serve as teachers in low income urban and rural schools for two years. These young leaders act as a source of dedicated teachers in government and low-income private schools and TFI provides resources, training, and support to these Fellows so they can employ innovative teaching strategies and maximize their effectiveness in the classroom.
In the past such efforts in the past have been done by individuals and NGO’s but what makes me excited about Teach for India is that it creates a self-sustainable ecosystem in the long run which can support good education of the kids from low income families by providing them a network of highly educated and qualified young teachers who are passionate about India – its future, potential and equal opportunities to all. TFI’s criterion when recruiting teachers ensures that only those who are qualified and have the zeal to do something for education system rather than just raising fingers on what is wrong. TFI offers a platform where individuals can come and teach – what some of us always wanted to do and create meaningful large scale social impact. With TFI, a fresh graduate can engage for a few years and offer services as per preferences.
For the potential TFI fellows, TFI experience offers understanding the basics of leadership, team work, social value creation and most of all the satisfaction of paying back to the society, not just by paying taxes but by uplifting those who are not as fortunate as your were in the primary years. An inspiring example of a brilliant mind creating social impact is Garima Gupta Kapila, undergraduate from IIT Delhi (Computer Science) and McKinsey Alumni who now acts as the Mumbai Director of Teach for India.
For more information about Teach for India campaign – visit TFI website, Times of India’s Teach India Campaign page or the Teach for India Official Facebook page. I wish with TFI in their belief that – One day all children will attain an excellent education.
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9 Responses to “Teach Lead Transform – Teach for India”
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I like the initiative but I think it needs better direction. Having few teachers in some schools will not really change the system. Yes it will lead to better education but only for a few students. I expected them to come out with a better solution so that they can cover a lot more children and provide them education.
Criticism is alright but I also applaud their effort! In a country like India where everyone is just looking after their own bread and butter, such efforts should get their due credit!
Today’s article about Teach for India in TOI – Read here http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Teach-India-Looking-for-a-few-good-people/articleshow/4751429.cms
You can sign up to volunteer here – http://teachindia.itimes.com/public_teach-india.php
Yes, I read about the article and immediately thought of this post!
@Gaurav – I am in full agreement with the need of this project. But TeachForIndia is different from TeachForAmerica in scale, scope and application. Getting wide reach in a short time span is a tougher challenge in India than in US, what say?
Very true Siddhesh, but I think TeachForIndia to TeachForAmeria is like India to America. Getting wide reach in a short time span is a tough in India but TeachForIndia may not be the end of things but surely a pleasant start. As I always say, the future seems better, doesnt it?
The point here is to sustain the initiative. Though I heard Garima Gupta Kapila speak on the issue some time ago on TV and that how the project was definitely sustainable, some probing questions from the anchor seemed to lay bare some fallacies as far as the sustainability is concerned.
There are serious misconceptions about how students from low income families would embrace this program without any inhibitions and how it can reach the farthest corners of the country. In fact, a similar initiative in the early 90s (there was a very catching jingle too, I forget the name of the program) was backed by the Government too – but it fell flat on its face due to lack of response from the families of the students themselves.
Anyways, I support this campaign, and hope it does well in the long run (though I would remember the then Ms. Gupta for an entirely different reason
)
@ Gaurav, siddhesh, kaushik and shubham
This is manu jindal, teach for india fellow and presently teaching in a low income private school in pune.
First of all thanks alot for all the positive thoughts and support for the movement.
Just wanted give an insight as fellow regarding few aspects which were discussed on this forum as yet. I know it is quite late but i just accidentally saw this discussion today only..
1. regarding growth: The idea is to build a very strong base in Mumbai and pune. As the founders of Teach for india already have a network and experience on education front in both the cities. So for first 2 years, we want to see what all it takes to really bridge the education inequity at the grass roots level. After that the idea is to replicate this model in all major cities and rural india.
2. ‘Misconceptions regarding how students from these communities will embrace the fellows and the program’ and Sustainability : first of all , fellows are teaching in existing schools only. Such as govt schools, municipal schools and low income private schools. So students we are teaching were going to schools already. We work as class teachers in the one of the primary grade and teach the required School syllabus and as well as our own curriculum which is highly integrated form all true learning, English literacy and interactive studies. S
I am not exaggerating but students absolutely adore the young Didi’s and bhaiyas in their classroom. I strongly believe this unconditioned love is the sustainability factor for Teach for india in the long run. The work you do with kids and just seeing the growth of the kids is a realistic experience which constantly keeps up the motivation level of a 23 -24 year old idealistic mind. I am proud to say that i am the super man for my students just because i have to do everything for them, to keep them invested in studies and the whole concept of understanding and true learning.
I would love to hear back from you guys and would also like to invite you to meet my kids and even take a class ..they like meeting up with new people..
Manu Jindal
Teach for India fellow
Class teacher of 48 2nd grade students.
Valley view high school, kondwa, Pune.
Hi all!
I am a TFI Campus Ambassador in IIT-Delhi. My job is to create awareness regarding TFI and to help people join this movement. My efforts have led me to understand that people do appreciate this campaign but most of them are hesitant to become a part of it. This is mainly because of 2 reasons;-
1) They have to go to Mumbai & Pune for teaching. Parents of many students and especially girls won’t allow this.
2) The second reason is more selfish one. People ask what they would do after two years of teaching. I understand that these 2 years of teaching would be a very good work experience and would definetely help anybody in getting a job. But students don’t like the idea of giving a job for teaching. I know that this reflect the selfish mindset of students but this is true……………..
Hi ankur
As far as your first point is concerned the world we are living in after your graduation you have to move out where ever the job takes you. I am not very sure that you mostly get the job u want in the same city. But anyhow i do understand that if you have choice ( or some issues) everyone would love to stay in the same place. It is an individual’s decision. We have to respect that. Hopefully in coming years Teach For India will be start its operation in all other cities.
2. Risk :
That is THE main point when you talk about movements like Teach for india. You have to take that decision once you get the offer. Nobody can take that for you. Nobody can guarantee what gonna happen after 2 years, be it TFI or any other corporate. Also thats why Teach for India is looking for 150 people who have that leadership thing in them, as we understand it is not for everyone. Also people have their own issues and responsibilities so some one who cannot take the decision now can still take it 4 years down the line. Again just to reinstate we need to respect people decision, everyone cannot leave his job. We want to spread the awareness regarding this growing education inequity gap and in a way pull levers at various places which then will result in achieving the final goal.
Thanks for being the CA
Manu Jindal
Teach for India fellow