Chennai: The British Council launched ‘Core Skills,’ a new programme under its Connecting Classrooms initiative today in Chennai. Connecting Classrooms is a global education programme designed to build the capacity of teachers worldwide and help young people become globally aware and competitive. More than 100 Head Teachers and Teachers from across South India attended the core skills programme.
Research by education experts and academics explains that in order to participate in a global economy, young people need to be equipped with core skills, which supplement the traditional curriculum, subject-focussed approach of many education systems. These are also referred to as deep learning skills, 21st century skills, transversal skills or core skills and competencies, depending on the local/national/regional context. The British Council’s work with school systems aims to improve learning outcomes for young people in this area. Core skills will enable teachers to create great learning experiences that support and nurture the development of core skills and helps young students become skilled and globally competitive.
The programme aims at benefiting the teachers; and will allow them to draw upon a wide range of resources to nurture core skills in their learners. The programme launched in South India will be held across the country where the teachers and principals will be trained.
Mei-kwei Barker, Director, British Council South India said, “We are delighted to launch a new programme Core Skills for leaders and teachers, to train and help integrate a range of core skills in the school curriculums. Through the course they will be able to foster innovation, improve leadership, draw upon a wide range of resources to nurture core skills in their learners and provide great learning experiences.”
British Council consulted a range of stakeholders, drew upon research on the deep pedagogies framework and UNESCO’s transversal skills and then decided to focus on supporting teachers develop their pedagogy in the following six core skills and competencies.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Communication and Collaboration
- Creativity and Imagination
- Citizenship
- Digital Literacy
- Student Leadership and Personal Development
The workshop on Core Skills has three modules—Introductory, Advanced, and Reflection and is spread over three sessions over a period of five months. In the introductory module -Principals, Head Teachers, School Management representatives will attend along with one nominated teacher. Then in the second stage Principal or nominated teachers to attend. And finally the Reflection module will be attended by teachers who attended the advanced module workshop. The three modules will have workshops to train the teachers and the head of schools.
The outcomes of the programme will be that the teachers will be able to create experiences that support the development of core skills as well as academic curriculum content through a wide range of resources. Another benefit of the programme will be that the heads of schools will be able to foster innovation and teaching strategies in their schools, thus enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.