The project aims to ensure that secondary level students, especially girls, from schools run by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) stay in school longer and acquire 21st century skills that will enable them to find meaningful employment and contribute positively to their communities. It also aims to improve the livelihood prospects of students, particularly girls, in socio-economically marginalized urban communities in Chennai by enhancing their 21st century skills, including English, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Enterprise and Leadership skills.
Project implementation
A cadre of Head Teachers, Teacher Educators, and teachers from 70 schools run by the GCC has been trained to support project activities and achieving desired outcomes. Over three years, the project has impacted 140 teachers, 560 student leaders and at least 14,000 students.
At the start of the project, workshops were held for Head Teachers, Assistant Education Officers (AEOs) and Project Officers in the Corporation to ensure that they understand the aims of the project and what is required of them in supporting teacher development. These workshops helped us ensure that Head Teachers in schools demonstrate effective leadership skills that further strengthen change management processes in their schools. This helps Head Teachers to provide support for implementing, managing and sustaining students clubs and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of teachers.
Subsequently, the British Council has provided training and on-going support to teacher educators to ensure that they are able to conduct training, mentor and support teachers through teacher clubs and other CPD activities as per agreed quality standards.
We have also provided support to the GCC in ensuring that every participating school has a specialist teacher facilitator (TF) with the necessary skills to support the Skills Club in their schools. TFs support student peer leaders in conducting 21st century skills club activities that encourage the development of English and 21st century skills.
The student peer leaders and Teacher Facilitator attended a two days’ ‘Club Leaders Workshop’ conducted by the British Council before they started running Skills Clubs in their schools. The aim of the workshops was to equip them with the knowledge and skills to demonstrate effective facilitation skills; which motivate and influence their peers to attend Skills Clubs and participate in activities that involve the use of English and promote 21st century skills such as Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, and Student Leadership and Personal Development.
The teachers have received training in how to implement classroom methodologies that develop English, promote 21st century skills and demonstrate professional practices outlined in the British Council CPD Framework for Teachers in their everyday classroom practice.