Finding talent
BoP schools need leaders, not just qualified teachers. Finding them poses a daunting challenge, keeping them motivated is a gargantuan task. We focus on recruitment and training as tools for creating mentors out of local youth who see education as a viable career option. We consciously avoid recruiting "experienced" teachers from the "traditional school system". Our focus instead, is on selecting willing learners among reasonably qualified rural youth who can be trained to become competent and child-friendly mentors.
It is important that these mentors be from within the community itself to ensure co-creation and sustainability.
Locating potential
In the first phase of mentor recruitment in Andhra Pradesh, we found over 200 willing applicants for 10 schools. The exhaustive selection process that followed featured:
- Written screening test
- Group activity
- Personal interview
- Assessment of teaching skills and respect for children (this took precedence over a B. Ed Degree)
BoP schools need leaders, not just qualified teachers. Finding them poses a daunting challenge, keeping them motivated is a gargantuan task. We focus on recruitment and training as tools for creating mentors out of local youth who see education as a viable career option. We consciously avoid recruiting "experienced" teachers from the "traditional school system". Our focus instead, is on selecting willing learners among reasonably qualified rural youth who can be trained to become competent and child-friendly mentors.
It is important that these mentors be from within the community itself to ensure co-creation and sustainability.
Locating potential
In the first phase of mentor recruitment in Andhra Pradesh, we found over 200 willing applicants for 10 schools. The exhaustive selection process that followed featured:
- Written screening test
- Group activity
- Personal interview
- Assessment of teaching skills and respect for children (this took precedence over a B. Ed Degree)
Training and Recruitment
Of the 60 candidates shortlisted, we finally selected 46 'mentors' who were duly trained and certified. The standard recruitment test was used with minor modifications for the certification program. The program also involved a six-day off site training module. As of date, we have 32 mentors across all our locations in Andhra Pradesh.
Enabling mentors
The intensive recruitment process generates a sense of achievement and pride among freshly recruited BoP mentors of the Academy. It is insisted that all mentors train together at the onset and are encouraged to interact with each other as much as possible to share experiences and exchange notes. To enable mentors better for academic delivery, we have the following systems in place:
- Parts of the start up training, digitized
- State level enabling programs like Train the Trainer
- Incentives linked to performance for mentor retention
- A contextually designed appraisal system
Read On>>
School in a Box
Curriculum
Of the 60 candidates shortlisted, we finally selected 46 'mentors' who were duly trained and certified. The standard recruitment test was used with minor modifications for the certification program. The program also involved a six-day off site training module. As of date, we have 32 mentors across all our locations in Andhra Pradesh.
Enabling mentors
The intensive recruitment process generates a sense of achievement and pride among freshly recruited BoP mentors of the Academy. It is insisted that all mentors train together at the onset and are encouraged to interact with each other as much as possible to share experiences and exchange notes. To enable mentors better for academic delivery, we have the following systems in place:
- Parts of the start up training, digitized
- State level enabling programs like Train the Trainer
- Incentives linked to performance for mentor retention
- A contextually designed appraisal system
Read On>>
School in a Box
Curriculum