SKILLS FOR MARKET TRAINING (SMART) PROGRAM: A FLAGSHIP PROGRAM BY SIES INSTITUTE OF COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND TECH MAHINDRA FOUNDATION TO TRAIN PRESERVICE TEACHERS

"Let us remember: one book, one pencil and one teacher can change the world.” said MALALA YOUSAFZAI. Education not only builds one’s life but also establishes a new world with greater positivity. Pressing this thought forward, SIES Institute of Comprehensive Education (SIES ICE) and Tech Mahindra Foundation (TMF) shared the same vision of educating maximum number of women to enable them to become self - reliant and financially independent and aiming to bring about a positive change in the world we live in. To achieve this common goal, SIES ICE and TMF joined hands for a 3-year partnership from 2017-2020 to curate an innovative Diploma Program in Early Childhood Development (DECD).

About SIES Institute of Comprehensive Education:

SIES Institute of Comprehensive Education (SIES-ICE), the third institute of South Indian Education Society and was established in the year 1980 to provide a quality teacher training programme in Early Childhood Education. In the institute’s journey of 42 years, it has carved a niche for itself and has become the most sought-after institute in early years teacher training, counselling and special education.

About the SIES ICE_TMF SMART program:

An official MOU was signed, and SMART centre was inaugurated on the 19th of September 2017 at the SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sion (West) Campus. The team constituted a Project Director, Project In-charge, three trainers and a resource mobilizer/placement in-charge. Resource mobilization activities comprised of advertisements in regional newspapers, visits to schools, NGOs, educational institutions, orphanages and destitute homes, phone conversations with various educational organisations, orphanages and destitute homes, social media publicity, advertising on cable TV channel, orientation activities to groups of students, parents and various organisations.

The primary goals of this desired project were as follows:

• To develop a successful community service network for those in the lower economic strata.
• To provide needy individuals and groups with free, or low-cost access to useful information, assistance and professional expertise.

Eligibility criteria:

The eligibility criteria comprised of the following requirements from the student’s end: a) Successful completion of Class XII, b) Annual family income below 2.5 lakhs, c) Women in the age group of 18-35 years.

Objective of the DECD program:

To offer professional training to empower youth/ women from the lower economic group, willing to work with young children.

Specific Objectives of the program:

• To provide training for the development of skill sets related to early childhood teaching.
• To provide an understanding of the developmental milestones of children and plan related activities to enhance the same.
• To develop a strong passion to work with children and the community.
• To offer opportunities for financial independence.
• To foster women empowerment and uplift their self-esteem and self-confidence leading to holistic personality development.

Details of grant received:

The grant received from the Tech Mahindra Foundation in the first year i.e., 2017-18 was Rs. 27,61,650/- in the second year i.e., 2018-2019 the total grant received was Rs. 31,43,830/- and in the third year i.e., 2019-2020 the total grant received was Rs. 23,64,473/-.

Beneficiaries of the SIES-TMF Partnership DECD program

Details of Student Employment of the SIES-TMF batch I (2017-2018)

Details of Student Employment of the SIES-TMF batch II - 2018-2019:

Details of Student Employment of the SIES-TMF batch III - 2019-2020:

Many students had to opt for home tuitions due to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. Few of the students have got married or started a family and/or taken up higher studies.

Conclusion

The 3-year partnership was extremely successful in creating energetic, well trained and competent preschool teachers. 158 young girls and women from the lower social strata got the best opportunity to get trained in Early Childhood settings and obtain employment through this flagship program jointly offered by CSR initiative of Tech Mahindra Foudation and the South Indian Education Society . Initiatives such as "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” by the MHRD clearly emphasize that education and participation of the girl child in academic activities are pivotal in the growth of a nation. This kind of a CSR initiative has indeed helped in creating the best human capital and act as useful tools towards building better societies and our nation.