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Eureka Schools - Vembakkam (Thiruvannamalai District), Walodai (Kanchipuram District) Models Schools providing high quality education to poor children through activity based approaches in a non-threatening learning environment.
In 2005, Koovathur Eureka School started with 50 children in LKG-Std 1 and Vembakkam Eureka School started with 35 children in LKG-UKG. Today, Koovathur School has 152 children from LKG-Std 5 and Vembakkam School has 125 children from LKG-Std 4. Most children come from very poor families, a few of them from single parent families. Their parents are usually daily wagers. Most children are from Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes (SC/ST) and the most backward communities.
Eureka Schools were established to showcase a successful model for what an ideal school can be. Many studies show that in Tamilnadu, nearly 50% children cannot read even a simple paragraph or do simple subtraction even in Std 5. This indicates a serious gap in ensuring learning outcomes, which is the most important aspect a school is expected to deliver on. At Eureka Schools, our children can read fluently by the time they are in Std 2 and can do subtraction in Std 1 itself!
Our goal is to make learning fun and effective at the same time.
Our Approach
Our teaching methodology is outcome oriented and the school learning environment is “non-threatening”, thus making learning at Eureka Schools both fun and effective.
Our core belief is that every child has the same potential. We ensure that every child acquires the skills expected of their age and class. We conduct periodic skill assessments to keep track of a child’s learning. We provide special attention to those who fall behind and ensure that every child learns.
We lay a strong emphasis on empowering our teachers and upgrading their skills through regular training programs with both internal and external resource persons.
Learning Environment
- Learning through fun activities, games, puzzles, projects, festivals, field trips, group discussions.
- Teachers encouraged to develop own teaching and learning materials.
- No exams and no comparison of marks!
- Periodic grade specific skill assessments to understand what each child knows and needs to learn.
- Children encouraged to explore, think, speak, question and experiment.
- Every opportunity to develop a child’s confidence and self-esteem.
- Work and play given equal importance. Emphasis on extra-curricular activities like Karate and several sports.
- No corporal punishment!
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