Kakatiya University (KU), Warangal: Kakatiya University teaching and non-teaching faculty members have decided to tele-mentor rural students with the purpose of checking out the dropout rate in school education.
The purpose shall be initiated following a call which was given by the Department of Agriculture Secretary as well as the vice-chancellor of Kakatiya University, Dr. B Janardhan Reddy.
The expected conclusion of the proposed ‘tele-mentoring’ is to provide resourceful mentors to the rural-students who are prone to less exposure due to socio-economic and geographic disadvantage.
The aim of this approach is to nurture schooling habits among rural students and inculcate self-confidence and motivation in them. Tele-mentoring can bridge the learning gaps by inspiring the students.
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The novel initiative taken by KU does not demand energy, finance, time, or any kind of organizational setup and has the potential to reach out to rural school students.
Kakatiya University (KU): Tele-Mentoring Process Highlights
Kakatiya University‘s approach can be put into action if there is active willing involvement of the teaching staff as well as other faculty members interested in mentoring and tutoring students. The mentoring will be done either through mobile phones or via some other digital platforms.
Professor K Purshotham, KU Registrar stated that the initiative will be done through scaling up ‘telementoring’ rural school students.
The mentor/ teacher would be assigned with a class from their respective alma mater and then divide the subjects of sciences and arts between associated mentors and teachers, he added.
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According to the concept of approach, each teacher/ mentor from Higher Education (HE) and University Education (UE) will adopt distinct individual classes.
Faculty members can mentor the students via WhatsApp, mobile conversations, and other conversing means during the respective period of time convenient to the mentor. He further added that the mentor can visit the adopted classroom for mentoring in person, if convenient.
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According to a recent survey done by ASAR (Association for Scientific and Academic Research), the possibility of students receiving educational assistance via WhatsApp is up to 47.30% and via other mobile phone means is up to 33% that makes this reach, India’s largest non-profitable professional association.
The professor informed that during a teleconference on November 4, the in-charge VC Dr. B Janardhan Reddy called upon the teaching, non-teaching, and research scholars to adopt at least one or two students from the schools that they have studied from and mentor the students.
The ones who can volunteer to be teachers/ mentors might comprise retired teachers from universities and colleges, qualified home-makers, research scholars, college teachers, university teachers, other qualified enthusiasts, and significantly the successful alumni of the respective schools.
National Statistical Office (NSO) survey 2020 reports that there is a major gap between what is expected from students to learn and what is actually being learned by them. It also informs that around 50% of students drop out by the time they reach secondary school.
The standards of education of a 10th class student are far less than that of a 5th class student. Adding to the grievous scenario of education is COVID-19 that widens the learning gaps, and brings forth challenges for the stakeholders of education- the teaching fraternity and Government. Vulnerable rural students will be affected the most during this period.
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