PreranaShishuVidyalayaDecember 2010 Site Visit Report
Overview
PreranaShishuVidyalaya has over 450 students from kindergarten to eighth grade. The facilities include a building with 5 classrooms and two internet-connected computers. Each room is equipped with a clock and a blackboard. The younger students sit on mats on the ground, while the more senior students sit in benches with desks. There is one classroom outside, and there is also an area where students can play and sit.
For many students, the school is within walking distance of their homes, and many students walk home in groups of friends after the end of the school day. Each student has a school uniform, as well.
The school administration works in an office area where the two computers are located. The entire school has full electricity, and each classroom is lit with several lamps.
Site visit
We went through a tour of the school, led by the headmistress and several teachers. The children had been taught good manners, which they demonstrated by standing up and greeting us with "Good morning, bhaiya" when we entered.
We observed students of the elementary grades taking mathematics exams, which included telling time on an analog clock and arithmetic operations.
When we asked around a hundred students to raise their hands if they knew at least basic use of a computer, an overwhelming majority indicated that they did, and that they had learned these skills in classes held at the school.
Afterwards, several students demonstrated their computer skills, including Internet use, creating presentations using PowerPoint, and drawing in Microsoft Paint. Various students used the Google search engine to locate information on the historical locations they had learned about in their classes. They were able to open an internet browser and type web addresses to locate the information they were requested to show us. The students also demonstrated the presentation skills they had learned in their computer classes and described their education at the school. They used words, pictures, and animations in PowerPoint. Several students were able to use PowerPoint to complement their speeches to create fluent and cohesive presentations on subjects ranging from their personal interests to what they had learned in their favorite classes. Other students opened Microsoft Paint and showed its use. One student was able to create a detailed drawing in just a few minutes. They also showed mastery of the Windows file system, selecting their previously-work from among hundreds of other files.
The students also told us about extracurricular activities, including dance and music. One student sang a classical piece and described what she did after school.
After the visit, we distributed pencils to students as they finished their exams. Many of them demonstrated their English skills saying, "Thank you very much."