Offbeat

Unconventional schools around the world

What if you get a chance to learn and play in a school that is in the middle of a jungle or on a boat or may be in a glass cube! Sounds untrue but there are such schools. Read to know more

Asmita Maurya

Parvarish – The Museum School, India

Every child deserves education and enlightment, and underprivileged children are no exception. This unique school in Bhopal is carving the dreams of thousands of unfortunate children who otherwise remain deprived of the basic education. Started in January 2005 with a project named – ‘Parvarish’ has till now trained over 2500 needy children. The project started with a group of five rag picker children and educated them. The journey

100 boat schools run by Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a local NGO since 2002. These boat schools are saviour to keep the schooling afloat during the heavy monsoon season. This innovative way of schooling also curbs the problem of school dropouts due to regular floods.

continues to provide a similar life to these children like their counterparts.

The museum infrastructure and ambience is used as classes for these slum children, teachers and volunteers take care of them and teach them. Most of the B.Ed students are hired as teachers to mentor these children. The school has been coveted with many prestigious awards, like UNESCO - The Wenhui Award for Educational Innovation in Asia and the Pacific 2016.

Floating schools of Bangladesh

Yes, you heard right, floating schools also called ‘Boat Schools’. Bangladesh has around A third-grader Ruby says, “Her parents are reluctant to send her school as it was far away, but due to boat schools, education comes at their doorsteps and they don’t have to worry about my safety”. These boat schools are equipped with internet access, solar powered and a library.

Students decide what to learn: Brooklyn Free School, US

How about learning in a school, where you have the liberty to design your own curriculum according to your interests and passions? Well, that is what Brooklyn Free School does, established in 2003 by a parents and teachers community who felt the need to have an independent democratic free school where students can control their education.

The school does not follow any standardised syllabus means it does not conducts any tests or grading system. But students themselves frame course curriculum along with teachers that aligns to their interests and growth. The idea sounds so amazing and hence is a reality for students studying in this school.

Green School Bali, Indonesia

How it would be learning in midst of a jungle? Definitely, it might be an exotic experience for students. This unique bamboo infrastructure school is known for its ecological ambience, which uses renewable energy sources like bamboo trees and poles, local grass and traditional mud walls. Students learn beyond the boundaries of conventional classrooms in a natural greener environment.

The school also runs a Bio Bus, a student-led social initiative to solve sustainable transport services of the rural areas and community. The bus purely uses biodiesel (B100) made from cooking oil. It aims to impart values of holistic community-integrated, entrepreneurial and problem solving skills among students through sustainable approach.

School where boys play with dolls: Egalia Preschool, Sweden

Would not that be a great place to learn where you are free to choose your own toys without any societal expectations based on the gender? Egalia is one such gender neutral school where kids are not discriminated and influenced on the basis of gender. Educators do not use pronouns “him” or “her” for kids, instead address them as “friends” or as “hen” - a genderless pronoun from Finland.

The school gives children much wider scope to be free in whatever they are comfortable in and does not limit them to any set societal norms based on gender. Boys can play with dolls and girls can experiment with fire tractors toys.

School that explores past life: The Elfschool, Iceland

Have you heard of a school that teaches its students about holy spirits and hidden people? Well, it sounds a bit strange, but this Iceland’s magical school is different for providing certification in Elf knowledge by headmaster Magnus Skarphedinsson. It is believed that he specialises in teaching about “hidden people” and “past-life explorations”.

The school conducts educational tours for visitors and children and usher them with some of the mysterious tales about Icelandic folklore. Over 9,000 people till date have visited this school since its inception in 1991 and continues to impart lectures on natural spirits and elves for over 41 years.

Studying in a glass cube: Orestad Gymnasium, Denmark

A unique school in Copenhagen, Denmark is known for its innovative architecture and gives you an exhilarating experience of learning in a giant classroom. A total of 358 high school students study in a spacious glass cube gymnasium. They experience learning away from traditional classrooms and engages students with innovative learning practices.

Another unique aspect of the school established in 2005 is that it uses 100% digital learning material. The school’s architecture has won awards like Forum Aid Award 2009 and European Union Prize to name a few.

‘Lifeline of Manipur’, India’s first floating school

Would not that be an amazing experience to study on a lake? Undoubtedly, yes! India has its first floating elementary school located on largest freshwater lake, Lokatak Lake in Manipur’s Champu Khangpok village. These small-hut shaped schools built with thatches and bamboos serves the educational needs of school dropouts of fishermen community children and also of the illiterate adults who never went school in their life.

All Loktak Lake Fisherman’s Union in association with an NGO – People Resources Development Association (PRDA) gave shape to this unique idea of starting a school on a lake.

Mask-Up

Educators need to pull up the right mask

Not all masks provide 100% safety and protection against viruses and finding a suitable mask that offers protection is quite tricky

With so many viral pathogens and variants emerging and at the same time schools reopening across the country, the teaching community needs to brace itself and provide a safe learning environment to students. Which is the right type of mask or best mask for teachers to don? This is the pertinent question among educators. With schools re-opening and educators returning to classrooms, the search for the perfect mask is on. What kind of face mask is ideal and

Mask-Up

best for the teacher?Maybe one that is comfortable, have layers with filters, and is breathable enough so that it doesn’t muzzle their voice, offering comprehensive protection. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers have been investigating what type of masks are better for educators, least intrusive for teachers and through which students can hear clearly what the instructor is saying. As education is mainly an immersive communicative, relational and interactive activity, wearing masks can pose specific challenges and negatively impact students and educators by creating barriers in comprehending visual communication and can be psychologically unsettling for both the stakeholders.

In some of the studies and researches, experts discovered that surgical and N95 masks are most favourable and better than fabric layered and cloth masks because fabric tends to absorb sound that affects sound waves, moistening the air particles through friction. The most preferred and popular masks that are in demand currently are surgical masks and N95 masks. Also, a study revealed that N95 masks are more effective than KN95 masks if people are not at high risk of infection.

However, to ensure proper safety and protection, CDC recommends teachers to wear masks that are FDA authorised that can fit properly onto your face and is breathable. So, some of the best face masks that teachers should look for overall protection are –

1. Type of substance used

Face masks are crafted using various materials like silk, polyester and cotton. But for maximum safety, cotton is preferred more as it has the tightest weave and thread count is effortlessly seamless, making it breathable. Second popular choice is silk for its natural water-resistant quality and eschew polyester made masks.

2. N95 leads

N95 masks are the popular one’s as they block 95 per cent of airborne particles, if put on correctly. However, they can be a bit pricey due to high demand and limited supply. You can always look for another alternative.

3. Reusable masks are better than disposable masks

We buy disposable masks in bulk, but most health experts suggest reusable or cloth masks to be better because they are environment friendly and the substance used provides better protection. They come in filter pockets and colourful fun designs.

4. Face shields as an add-on but not necessary

Some educators might refrain from wearing masks for obvious reasons related to breathing problems or suffocation and choose a face shield over a mask. While a face shield may ward off voice stifling and provides students with a better site of your facial expressions. Face shields work as addon protection along with masks, but they should not be replaced entirely with masks, as they are open from below and alongside the face, giving more exposure to airborne droplets. Teachers can opt for masks with a transparent plastic window so that children can see the educators mouth. These kinds of masks are ideal for teachers with hearing-impaired children and speech therapists. Many healthcare experts and CDC suggest that face shields are helpful but should not be used as an alternative to masking, and also, they are not very necessary for educators. Educators can use the aforementioned masks to limit the transmission risk ensuring the safety of all.