Collaborative effort

The third phase of the Indo-Australian teacher-training programme, the ‘Peer Alliance for Professional Productive Experience in Teaching’, or PAPPET, was held recently in Bengaluru.

The project, funded by ‘New Colombo Plan Scholarship Programme’ provided by the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was conducted in collaboration with two schools, Christ School (ICSE) and Christ School (State). The Australian peers along with their Indian counterparts were assigned to these two schools for a period of three weeks.

The 23 Australian students, from RMIT University and La Trobe University, took classes under the supervision of their respective mentors, accompanied by their Indian peers, using activity-based learning as their primary pedagogical style, during the programme held from June 3 to 22.

The school co-ordinators, Mr. Paul Dinakaran, Ms. Annsemma (ICSE) and Mr. Thomas (State) worked with the PAPPET student co-ordinators. The project, which was started in 2017, was the brainchild of Dr. Rohan Nethsinghe of RMIT University and Dr. Premnadh Madhava Kurup of La Trobe University. Since its inception, it’s being conducted in partnership with the School of Education, Christ (Deemed to be) University, under the mentorship of the Head of Department, Dr. Jose Cherian.

Apart from teaching, the peers also engaged themselves with the co-curricular activities of the school. The group of students in Christ School (ICSE) organised the morning assembly on the occasion of ‘World Environment Day’, where they highlighted the environmental problems of India and Australia through skits, mimes, songs and speeches.

The teacher trainees were invited for the inauguration-cum-orientation of the Christ School Kindergarten and later the Australian teachers who specialised in early childcare went to the kindergarten for their observations.

Australian teacher trainees in both the schools were also given the opportunity to take substitution classes with their peers, who took the opportunity to interact with schoolchildren about Australia.

On the last day of the project, the Australians organised an assembly in their respective schools to express their appreciation towards the institution, celebrating it with native Australian songs, dance and speeches.

The teacher trainees were taken on an education excursion to the Valley School, popularly called an alternative or an unconventional school. The Valley school which is based on the philosophy of J. Krishnamurthy is situated far from the city, amidst tranquil and lush greens.