Buddy groups help pupils take online tests

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 7

With a view to fostering team spirit among students, teachers as well as officials, the Punjab Education Department celebrated ‘Buddy: Mera Sikhiya Saathi’ week recently. The impact of this week was so strong that it helped to enhance leadership qualities among the students and networking of teachers and students became strong and online education in schools got a boost.

Punjab 1st state to launch achievement survey

Punjab is the first state in the country, which has started conducting the Punjab Achievement Survey (PAS). The main objective of the survey is to strengthen the learning level, understanding of basic concepts of different subjects, developing reasoning ability among students from the beginning so that they could be prepared for various competitive examinations. The first round of tests for the survey was held from September 21 to October 3. Around 26 lakh students from Class I to XII, studying in government and government-aided schools appeared in the test.

The department had asked schools to launch ‘Buddy groups’ of different classes in government schools across the state to ensure cent percent participation in the ‘online tests’, conducted in the first phase of the ‘Punjab Achievement Survey’.

The students who did not have mobile phones were identified in all areas.

“Buddy groups” were made comprising different sections of society, including SMC members, panchayat members, GoGs, mid-day meal workers, anganwadi workers, DIET students and pass-out students from schools, who were mobilised to help the students by providing them their mobile phones for attempting the PAS tests.

Punjab is the first state in the country, which has started conducting the Punjab Achievement Survey (PAS). The main objective of the survey is to strengthen the learning level, understanding of basic concepts of different subjects, developing reasoning ability among the students from the beginning so that they could be prepared for various competitive examinations. The first round of tests for the survey was held from September 21 to October 3. About 26 lakh students from Class I to XII, studying in government and government-aided schools took part in the test.

Keeping in view the encouraging response, the department decided to dedicate a week to this innovative concept. During the week, the ‘Buddy: Mera Sikhiya Saathi’, the good practice, was further strengthened by bringing officials and teachers under the ambit of the ‘Buddy group’. It provided a fillip to the qualitative improvement drive by fostering team spirit as well as leadership qualities among the students,” said DEO Swaranjit Kaur.

“In some buddy groups, teacher is the senior buddy and under the supervision of the senior buddy, small student buddy groups are formed with each sub-group having a student as the buddy leader or head.

A strategy is framed in such a way so as to reach out to every student with regard to PAS online tests and online education. The buddy group students are helping each other and even helping those students who had difficulty in accessing mobile phones and apps. The buddy week programme would strengthen the networking of thousands of students for PAS, under the aegis of Krishan Kumar, Secretary, School Education, said Dr Davinder Singh Chhina, principal of a government school.