New Delhi

BaLA making education a thing of joy

NEW DELHI: The concept of using school building as a learning aid (BaLA) has been working wonders in Delhi as it has made education a thing of joy for the students and has been helping them understand difficult concepts with ease.

So, now a school fan with a vibgyor painted in the centre helps children understand how the seven colours – violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red -- appear white on fast rotation. Likewise, doors opening in classrooms now help children understand the concept of angles up to 90 degrees as the ground is painted in different colours for every 15 degrees.

In fact, under the concept the schools buildings are being so designed or painted that the students enjoy being in the school. Be it the colourful walls with motifs, designs, illustrated stories, cartoons, mathematical puzzles or swings and rides made of tyres, or a ‘stapoo’ on the floor, every useful space is being used to communicate to the children difficult concepts in a playful manner.

In fact as per Delhi Education Secretary Rina Ray, “the Department has put in a lot of emphasis on training, improving the infrastructure, e-Governance and on making learning joyful, interesting and meaningful so that children develop a desire to go to school and to continue in school. These initiatives have led to a considerable increase in enrolment at all levels and a huge decrease in the drop out rates.”

The concept of BaLA can therefore also be given credit for the improvement in the Class 10 results as the pass percentage in 2008 rose to 84 per cent from 48 per cent in 2005. In three years, the Department achieved what would have otherwise taken about 16 years.

BaLA is now here to stay in Delhi. The concept, as per “A Quick Report 2008” of the Department of Education, has been introduced “to create a pedagogically meaningful environment for children in the interior and exterior”.

The whole school building is used as a canvas. “It has the potential to use floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, grills, corridors and even the playground as a learning aid for the students.”

Also, the concept gives full freedom to the teachers and the students to use their creative ideas and make the school building an attractive, meaningful and effective tool of providing reinforcement of the class room learning.

To promote the concept, Delhi Government has given substantial powers and funds to the Vidyalaya Kalyan Samiti for the improvement of the school buildings and to introduce BaLA elements. Each school is being given Rs. 2 lakh per annum under VKS to implement BaLA and it is primarily the teachers and the students who are designing and executing the components.

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