Bhubaneswar: At Budhikhamari High School in Mayurbhanj, a group of class VIII students read the village Haat's handmade charts and features sketches, market timing and pricing patterns. Similarly, in the Rayagada district, another group of students document the daily lives of local weavers. These are not extracurricular activities. They are part of the core classroom lessons.At many of the tribal schools in Odisha, students learn from those around them. The ST, SC Development (SSD) department conducted a pilot project on project-based learning (PBL) in 80 schools covering 11,000 students in four districts of Rayagada, Keonihar, Majorbanj and Gajapati from 2024-25. The pilot project is intended to not only provide fun learning, but also improve academic performance.“All of these activities have improved teamwork, creativity and critical thinking. We share ideas, are interested in our work and take pride,” said Smrutirekha Mohanta, Class VIII student at Budhikhamari High School.The teacher said he noticed a change in student interest in academics. “Some students who were previously hesitant to speak now share their answers with confidence and excitement, especially those assigned to tasks as part of project-based learning can demonstrate student performance.According to official sources, the early results are promising as 87% of teachers reported positive changes in student engagement and learning. Over 70% of students participated actively in group work. Of the 8,139 students rated, 53% improved with ODIA and 70% improved social science between Overall rating-1 and Overall rating-2. In particular, over 4,300 students in the social sciences and 2,500 in the ODIA recorded growth of over 15%. Similarly, at Keonjhar, 88% of class 8 students and 57% of class 7 students showed improvements in social studies and ODIA, respectively. Rayagada had the highest overall academic growth rate, with nearly 70% of students improving their scores.“We commend the efforts of Mantra4change, teachers and all stakeholders who contributed to these initiatives. Teachers are encouraged to fully embrace this approach and leverage the power of PBL and BALA to create meaningful learning experiences for students across the Rayagada district.The SSD division is working with nonprofits Mantra4Change and Education over Foundation to implement pilot projects in four districts. A state-level task force has also been designed, but over 239 teachers received training, mentoring and practical classroom tools under the program.“We conducted a baseline assessment and tailored the modules to the NEP and curriculum. Teachers were supported with summary videos and practical tools that facilitate classroom integration. For expansion, a cascade training model has been introduced across 11 regional zones. mantra4change.
