ABOUT THE BOOK
>> Though launched across the country, it will be fine-tuned to suit Goan scenario
>> Will be made available to schools depending on their medium of instruction
>> Prepared by teachers across India themselves, during several national workshops
>> Launched nationally to mark Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary year
PANAJI: The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) launched a book "Experiential Learning: Gandhiji's Nai Talim" on the Mahatma's basic practical educational concepts. It will be introduced for pre-primary, primary, and secondary students during the 'Work Experience' period, and for higher secondary students during the National Service Scheme (NSS) class.
The book was launched at Kala Academy during the Directorate of Education's State Teachers Awards on Teacher's Day by Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma.
Education Secretary Neela Mohanan, Director of Education Gajanan Bhat, and Director of SCERT Nagraj Honnekeri also graced the function.
Honnekeri explained that even though the book has been launched across the country, it will be fine-tuned to suit the Goan scenario.
Further, Honnekeri also informed that the book will be available in regional languages at a later date, and will be made available to schools depending on their medium of instruction.
"Gandhiji's Nai Talim is practical and not theory-based," said Honnekeri, adding that this is the first year the book will be introduced, more for teachers to get oriented to the concepts.
He explained that the teacher's handbook would be sent to all educational institutions for this year, and things would fall into place from next academic year.
Honnekeri also explained that the book had been prepared by teachers across India themselves, during several national workshops. It was later validated by the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
Some of the themes discussed in the book are the difference between child work and child labour, the alarming tendency of society to place the differently-abled in a separate category, and many other ideas of Gandhiji.
The book has been launched nationally to mark Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary year. The initiative to come out with the book was taken by the Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education, Hyderabad.
