#SquarePandaIndia

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Arunachal Pradesh launches 'Digi-kaksha,' the first sustainable #smart#governmentschool to empower slow and average learners with an immersive and transformative #learningexperience.

Will this initiative enhance learning for students?

We'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Explore the invaluable role of #interpersonalskills in shaping students' academic and personal growth.

From team work to conflict resolution, these skills pave the way for success in school and beyond.

This 5 minute read will help you understand why we emphasise on interpersonal skills for children. Blog link in the Image.

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Square Panda : Learning and Reading games for toddlers

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Empower your child's social growth with our informative video. From building resilience to enhancing emotional intelligence, developing social skills directly affects a child's future success.

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Dr Jawahar Surisetti, an eminent Psychologist and Advisor to Government, shares his perspective on early learning techniques deployed by Square Panda.

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Veeranna Madiwalar - Behind Every Step

Veeranna Madiwalar, a 39-year-old, has turned Nidagundi Ambedkar School in Vijayapur, Karnataka, from a run-down place into a lively, engaging space for learning. With its colorful walls, updated facilities, and a library full of picture books and multimedia resources, the school now attracts more village children, boosting its enrollment from 76 to 136 students. Veeranna emphasized that it took a team to bring about this remarkable transformation, resulting in a school where the children genuinely enjoy studying.

Growing up in a financially struggling family, Veeranna was determined to improve education for future generations. Supported by his uncle during his early education, Veeranna read about Rabindranath Tagore – a source of inspiration that drove him to work towards his goals. He took up multiple jobs to fund his higher education. Eventually, he completed a Diploma in Education, worked at an NGO for lake and wildlife rejuvenation, and pursued a master's degree in English and Kannada, all while saving money from his various earnings. In 2007, Veeranna fulfilled his long-held dream of becoming a government school teacher.

When Veeranna took over as the headmaster of Nidagundi Ambedkar School in 2016, he kick-started a transformational journey using his own savings. He started by greening the school and renovating the crumbling infrastructure. Recognizing the need for more financial support, he leveraged social media to raise funds by sharing his efforts, resulting in much-needed assistance. Thanks to his initiative, he sought donations to build new bathrooms, repair furniture, and acquire new ones. Generous contributions from supporters even helped establish a language lab equipped with visual aids and resources for studying English and Kannada.

Veeranna firmly believes in living his dreams through the success of his students, marking his story as one of devotion, resilience, and impactful transformation.

Source: The Better India

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Rajasthan launched 'Dial Future' in government schools to assist Class 10 students in choosing the right subject streams for their career goals. 🎯

Should other states consider adopting this vocational guidance method? Let us know your views.

Source: Economic Times

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Join Sonia Relia in Episode 15 of #ShikshaSarthi as she explores the possibilities of #innovation and 21st Century Skills in immersive outdoor learning. Discover how nature becomes the ultimate classroom, empowering students to thrive in the digital age📚

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We believe in transforming the education landscape to deliver a better tomorrow. Our end-to-end solutions are driven by a holistic approach that accommodate the entire education ecosystem to foster sustainable learning impacts. Witness our vision empower our youth!

Click here to read more: https://squarepanda.app.link/e/WebsiteLinkTumblr

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At 53, Alice Thomas established Udhavi Karangal, an organization dedicated to rehabilitating underprivileged children, including those from tribal communities, orphans, and street-dwellers. One impactful example is Subash, a former beggar whose life she transformed, who is now employed as an engineer in an MNC. Since founding Udhavi Karangal in 1991, Alice has positively impacted over 150 children, operating a primary school, boys' and girls' homes, and a girls' observation home in Puducherry.

This inspiring journey began when Alice was just 21 and decided to help a begging boy by offering him food and education, which led her to find her life's calling. The boy was the first of many children Alice would go on to help, transforming them from ragpickers to educated individuals. Alice, who had been interested in social work since her teenage years, took the initial step by enrolling these children in schools, providing vocational training, and gradually establishing her primary school. Today, thanks to her and her NGO Udhavi Karangal, they can support these children till post-graduation.

In the earlier days, Alice Thomas faced challenges in bringing children to her organization, but with changing government policies and rising awareness, the process has eased in recent years. However, Alice admits that reaching out to children from tribal communities still poses difficulties. To counter this, she provides home-schooling options for uncooperative families and focuses on children put into labor work.

Alice's dedication is such that she and her husband chose not to have biological children, considering the ones they serve as their own. The children she supports attest to her significant positive influence on their lives. Her greatest accomplishment is seeing her mentees thrive in various fields and inspire the next generation.

Alice Thomas's life encompasses an endearing tale of grit, resilience, and whole-hearted service for the betterment of society.

Source: The Better India

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Meet Lata Satagopan, a 72-year-old inspiring storyteller who has devoted her life to revolutionizing education with puppetry🎭

She has spent 37 years dedicated to innovative and socially relevant puppet-making, training educators, and conducting workshops in India and abroad. Lata's thematic puppet shows combine 'theatre in education' with storytelling and scriptwriting to revive the art of puppetry, for which she received a state award. As an English teacher, Lata used her love of drama and literature to innovate her teaching approach.

In 1986, she attended a 45-day puppetry training program organized by NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), which marked a turning point in her career. Since then, she has become a resource person for the Department of Education and collaborated with other puppeteers.

Puppetry helps improve children's communication, literacy, motor skills, socialization, and creative thinking. It makes learning more engaging by tapping into the 'inner child' and promoting observation skills through visualization, movement, and language development.

The National Education Policy 2020 encourages experiential learning and has implemented a toy-based pedagogy for children aged 3 to 18. Puppetry is now recognized as an educational tool alongside blocks, puzzles, masks, and sand art.

Lata is optimistic about puppetry's inclusion in the BEd curriculum and uses it to teach subjects like English, mathematics, sciences, and social studies.

Her performances, covering themes such as personal hygiene, community living, and environmental messages, involve children in scriptwriting and adaptation. In her interactive performances, Lata specializes in glove puppets, combining songs with storytelling. She aims to popularize the art form, honor Karnataka's culture, and inspire future puppeteers through her passion for puppetry.

Source: The Better India

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#Delhi government plans to establish a Science Innovation Hub with state-of-the-art equipment to foster a scientific culture among students. The hub consists of an auditorium, library, planetarium, and museum with science and technological objects etc. This initiative will encourage students to pursue more STEM-based courses. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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The Dun &  Bradstreet Start-Up 50 Trailblazer Award, 2023 is another feather in our cap. We have been recognised for setting the benchmarks in the category of innovation, quality, and customer focus, with a firm roadmap for sustainable growth and profitability. We thank our Square Panda family that continues to strive for excellence.

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At the Lumding Learning Centre in Assam, tribal children engage in daily activities like reading and listening to village elders' stories. The center also provides meals and shelter for mothers affected by domestic violence. Led by Ananya Paul Dodmani, founder of Tribal Connect, this center is one of 160 across Northeast India, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Goa, empowering indigenous communities.

Ananya's journey began in school, noticing disparities between her and her tribal friends' lifestyles. In 8th grade, she became more aware of her privileges when many friends didn't return after summer break due to malaria. An incident involving a tribal woman being deceived by a shopkeeper inspired Ananya to teach basic skills like recognizing money and reading bus numbers.

She started by teaching local kids in an empty school space, soon joined by classmates. They traveled across Northeast India, raising funds through cultural events and sports. In college, Ananya encouraged professors to include these children in exchange programs.

A life-changing incident solidified her commitment to tribal upliftment. Recognizing the need for greater impact, she established her first learning center in the village where her father had been kidnapped. With limited resources, she shared her vision with the village headman. Despite skepticism, she began teaching five children under a banyan tree in 2003.

Today, over 160 learning centers across India follow this approach, with the organization formally established in 2019. Ananya's story embodies courage and determination as she works tirelessly to uplift and empower marginalized indigenous communities. Today, her impact is felt in the lives of countless children who now have access to education and a brighter future.

Source: The Better India

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The #Maharashtra government aims to alleviate the weight of school bags on children by introducing integrated textbooks-cum-notebooks, grouping all subjects in four textbooks for each of the four semesters.

Does this initiative serves the best interests of children? Let us know!

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Discover the power of project-based learning with our latest blog, featuring inspiring examples to ignite student creativity! 🎨🚀 Dive into innovative projects that engage learners, foster collaboration, and make real-world connections.

Transform your classroom and empower students to think critically and creatively. If our content resonates with you, give this a read!