Sujhav Somvaar | Punjab

When COVID-19 has ruptured the regular channels of engagement between the state and the stakeholders, the Education Department of Punjab, in its efforts to encourage participation and co-creation, launched the 'Sujhav Somvaar' initiative this July.

Sujhav Somvaar literally translates to 'Mondays for Suggestions'. This initiative aims to create an open platform for over 1.3 lakh teachers and leaders in Punjab to share their suggestions, feedback and ideas to improve the programs being implemented in the state. This one-of-a-kind initiative is a welcome step towards enabling the voices of stakeholders and making the processes participatory.

To implement this, the State Department is using the Samiksha Capability (a.k.a. Darpan in Punjab) on the ShikshaLokam platform to design and administer questionnaires on a weekly basis. It helps the state leadership to gain visibility, to sense and make sense of the responses in real-time; thus, driving data-based discussions and incorporating the feedback to improve the existing programs.

We wish success to the Department of School Education, Punjab, and the partners in the Punjab Education Collective (PEC) in this promising endeavor.

With an unwavering focus on access, equity and quality, the New Education Policy, 2020 is the 'first education policy of the 21st century'. It makes recommendations that are aligned with the aspirational goals of the 21st century education, including SDG4. The changes proposed in the NEP will introduce new structures and new processes in the education system. Its implementaion would thus necessitate effective change management and leadership buy-in. Here is the final policy document for your reference.

Covid-19 created a discontinuity in the process of learning of our children across contexts, states, and countries. It demanded all of us to relook at the methods of delivery and achieving the outcomes of education.

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." - Henry Ford

Inspired by this quote, instead of figuring out the ways to do it alone, ShikshaLokam together with its partner organizations is making an attempt on identifying and solving challenges that have surfaced due to this disruption. We call it Collab-a-thon 2.0. During this 2-months long journey, the organizations are relooking at the core challenges, brainstorming and designing solutions towards building a resilient education system, and finally preparing to prototype them with the stakeholders on the ground. Watch out this space for more information.

If you wish to be part of this initiative, sign up quickly.