Nishant Saxena

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) for 2022 was released earlier this year. And just like the previous reports, the latest one also pointed out the worrying ‘learning crisis’ in India. In simple terms, it means many children in India cannot read simple texts or solve basic arithmetic problems, which they should ideally be able to.

While these reports may seem repetitive with little shift in the ground reality, what remains to be seen is what is being done by the policymakers to tackle this crisis. Well, towards this end, Dr. Sunita Gandhi, President of Devi Sansthan (Dignity Education Vision International), already seems moving.

Days after conducting a Massive Online Teachers’ Training (MOOT) in Accelerating Learning for All (ALFA) technique, she today convened a global conclave of policymakers, that saw participation from almost 50 countries, apart from representation of 27 states in India.

The Global Policymakers Conclave was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Defence, Rajnath Singh.

ALFA, which, as the name suggests, is a unique teaching technique that facilitates quick and easy learning for the learner. The promising technique could be a game changer when it comes to dealing with the learning crisis. MOOT participants were exposed to and trained in ALFA, which is expected to positively impact the learning outcomes.

Speaking on the occasion, the defence minister lauded the efforts of Dr. Sunita Gandhi, the convenor of the conclave and President of Devi Sansthan (Dignity Education Vision International). Appreciating her efforts, he said, “Dr. Gandhi’s efforts to make education available to all, regardless of caste, religion, or socioeconomic status, is a bold and courageous step.” 

He was particularly impressed by the ALFA technique. He said that it is heartening to see that children can be educated at a low cost with a zero ‘carbon footprint’. He also emphasized the need for such innovations that give a new dimension to education and help children develop skills and the ability to express their thoughts clearly. He added that we, as a society, do not have to turn students into parrots, but instead help them grow into clear-minded thinkers.  

The minister even urged all government and non-government organizations to join this program and make it a success.

The next segment of MOOT is slated for March 14 and 15 and shall be conducted in Hindi. It is being conducted free of cost and is accessible to all, with no discrimination of any kind. The conclave, convened by Dr. Sunita Gandhi, was hosted by the City Montessori School, Lucknow.

The conference provided a platform for educationists to share their success stories and discuss the evolution of education as a practice and the various innovations emerging across the globe. Founder-Director of City Montessori School, renowned educationist Dr. (Mrs.) Bharti Gandhi thanked all the guests and educationists from India and abroad on this occasion.