History is a subject that has been relegated to the backburner and therefore its teaching has been largely uninspiring. There is a need to restate and rediscover its relevance and the best place to start this is in the classrooms.

With the holidays fast approaching, Teacher Plus brings you a cover story to celebrate the holiday spirit. This holiday why not try doing something different and healthy? Read this author’s experience of starting her own hydroponic vegetable garden hopefully you will be inspired enough to start your own. Have a happy vacation.

The Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to make English compulsory at the primary level in all government schools has met with a mixed reaction from educationists. While this step may seem for the better, many are sceptical about how well it will be implemented in Andhra Pradesh and across South India. Some of the concerns are whether teachers are adequately trained to teach English and whether the focus on English will take away the importance of other subjects in school.

RtE 2009 has promised to revamp public education in India. But to realize the ideal standards proposed by the RtE there are several concerns that need to be addressed. Teacher shortage is perhaps the most visible and urgent hurdle that needs to be overcome. While tackling teacher shortage is a pressing need, it is only one of the many more concerns that currently paralyze public education.

Does the average Indian urban parent participate in his/her child’s education? Do teachers prefer that parents involve themselves in their child’s education? What expectations do the teachers have from parents? Studies have shown that teachers and principals should familiarize themselves with the facets of parental involvement that can help the most, so that they can guide parents on what steps they can take to become more involved.

Most school buildings in India remind one either of a hospital or a prison, both places of surveillance and authority. Schools though should be welcoming places where children can freely explore knowledge. The Centre for Vernacular Architecture is changing the way schools are being built

A major transformation is taking place in the field of education with top graduates and professionals stepping in to impart learning to the less fortunate. This movement called ‘Teach for India’ is making an impact in two cities in Maharashtra and promises to get bigger. However some questions and concerns still need to be addressed. Shaheen Mistri, CEO of TFI, in an interview, talks about her plans and her vision to ensure that all children receive an excellent education. Anu Aga, CEO of Thermax, explains why the human element is important in education, and is passionately committed to the cause of primary education.

Corporate intervention in the field of education is not new but of late there has been a change in the nature of their involvement in public schooling. All the major corporates in India have established not-for-profit organizations to carry out their educational programmes. While some hold hands with the government, other prefer to try and solve problems at the helm of the public schooling system on their own. Teacher Plus talks to the main corporate NGOs about their involvement in the education sector.

First day jitters and joys
As we began planning for our September issue, we were all sure that it had to …

The Cambridge Young Learners English (YLE) Starters Programme is the latest of the standardized tests. Unlike the GRE or IELTS, the YLE targets young children. Read this language trainer’s experience of training 6-8 year olds for the programme.