The System Transformation and Rejuvenation of Education (STAR) Education initiative, part of the School Fagathansi Mission, is positioned as an ambitious plan to overhaul the quality of education in Manipur’s government schools. STAR Education is designed to enhance learning outcomes in the state through the strategic use of technology and aims to bring about a radical transformation in teaching and learning methodologies across government schools in Manipur.
In a noteworthy departure from the national trend, earlier this year, Manipur had witnessed a remarkable 21% increase in enrollment in government schools.The focus must now shift towards maximizing learning outcomes in these institutions. To ensure that future generations of Manipur recovers from the pandemic and the ongoing conflict, paying special attention to learning recovery, and increased investment in education is critical.
The unique challenges faced by Manipur, including internet bans and school closures, prompted STAR Education to adopt an innovative offline-online approach. During school closures, the program provided 3-4 hours of joyful learning in relief camps, ensuring continuity in educational activities. Despite the absence of internet access, a technology-enabled system allowed headmasters/headmistresses to upload and download crucial data and lesson guides every couple of weeks, ensuring digital transparency and continuous support.
Key Components:
- 360-Degree Support Teams
STAR Education’s ecosystem is a robust network of field-based and back-end support teams, each specializing in key facets such as academic development, IT support, community engagement, quality assurance and measurement & evaluation.
- Technology Platform Empowerment
STAR Education embraces technology as a catalyst for change, empowering school leaders that facilitates transparent and efficient management of classrooms and schools. Teachers can monitor student and teacher performance, track attendance, conduct classroom observations, and manage administrative functions seamlessly.
- Teacher Tablet Integration
Equipping teachers with STAR Education tablets enables them to manage student attendance, lesson teaching and completion. This integration contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the educational environment, bridging the digital divide.
- Global benchmarking
STAR Education’s model is distinguished by its commitment to local contextualization and global benchmarking. Beginning with intensive fieldwork, the program identifies specific learning needs, assesses teacher capabilities, and aligns the local syllabus with globally benchmarked assessment tools. This ensures a curriculum that prepares students for a globally competitive future.
- Teacher Training and Empowerment
Recognizing the pivotal role of educators, STAR Education provides intensive training for government teachers and headmasters/headmistresses. This training equips them with essential leadership skills, effective classroom management techniques, and technical competencies. Additionally, each headmaster/mistress receives a synchronized smartphone with digital teaching guides, facilitating easy access to daily lesson plans and promoting continuous professional development.
- Continuous Monitoring and Feedback
STAR Education is commited to continuous monitoring, feedback, and coaching. This approach ensures that each teaching day builds upon the previous one, with a constant adaptation to learning needs and teacher delivery in classrooms.
Within a mere 18 weeks of implementation, STAR Education has demonstrated tangible progress in enhancing student learning outcomes. The results of the 2023 MIDLINE survey conducted for the program reveal a significant improvement in fluency, with students in the program recording a noteworthy 12-word-per-minute increase compared to their non-STAR counterparts. Numeracy skills also exhibited an 8% boost, providing a clear advantage for schools employing STAR teaching methodologies.
Beyond the quantitative data, STAR Education has fostered trust with schools, leading to a notable 43% increase in enrollments compared to the state-wide average in the beginning of 2023.
STAR Education is committed to offering a transformative model that combines technology, teacher empowerment, and continuous monitoring to counteract the adverse effects of conflict and prolonged school closures. As Manipur navigates through challenging times, the government’s commitment to education transformation serves as an inspiring example for the rest of India, demonstrating that education can be a powerful tool for social justice and economic upliftment.
