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Role of Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad in Science Education of Kerala

Research · May 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1817.4880

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 MOHAMMED HUSSAIN P A

MAE14082

A Case Study on Role of Kerala

Shastra Sahitya Parishad in
Science education of Kerala M A EDUCATION
Azim Premji University, Bangalore
 Table of Contents

 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 RESEARCH DESIGN/ METHODOLOGY
 FINDINGS
1. Understanding Kerala
2. History of KSSP
3. Background of activists in the organization.
4. Publication for science education
5. Pedagogy in class rooms and evaluation
6. Miscellaneous
 DISCUSSIONS
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCE
 Abstract

This is case study on a science based organization in Kerala called

‘Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad’. Research focuses on their
contribution in school education system and to the society.
Studied history, working, and intervention in formal and informal
science education. Research done mainly by interview method
including one observation. Research concludes that KSSP had
achieved a lot in their aim to popularize science and create critical
thinking among people. They had intervened in school education
from curriculum framing to teaching and learning of child. They
were successful in cooperating with government institutions and
other public spheres. They have a good network varied from big
state functionaries to common farmers.
Introduction

In India, Science Education has been criticized for its content and
pedagogic practices from long back. It is yet to come up with a suitable
approach and accommodate latest developments and trends in science
teaching. Science learning should enhance spirit of enquiry, readiness to
question and willingness to be questioned students. There are many
organizations working around the globe to humanize the Science
education and have had an effective impact both on children and the
Society. Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad is one such famous organization
with over fifty years of experience in the domain of Education, working
both with the Schools & Society in Kerala. The motto of this organization
is ‘Science for Social Revolution’. They believe that, today Science &
Technology are the powerful weapon to fight against the impoverishment
of marginalized communities. The scope of this movement and area of
their intervention is expanding continuously over the time.

This study tried to find the contribution of KSSP in science awareness or

science education of India’s first 100% literacy achieved state. How KSSP
get transformed from a Peoples Science Movement to a full-fledged
organization which have an inevitable role all sorts school education
system in Kerala. The background of the people who volunteered for
KSSP, Aims and innovative programs for improving formal and informal
science education and how they implement their programs. Their
intervention in Curriculum frame works and to know in what all ways
KSSP could be relevant now in Kerala and for other states in India. How
this organization acquired wide support from public and government
departments.

Research could be done by only data collection from some activists who
are available in the 2 weeks of March. As the final exams were happening
in schools, no activities of KSSP were happening at the time of research
and even school teachers were busy to get an appointment. It is not
possible to study about all the programs of KSSP in its 50 years journey
by 10 day research, so the cream programs and initiatives were studied to
get a broader idea.
Methodology

The research was totally qualitative method and the tools used were
Interview and observation.

 Interview

Ten KSSP activists has been interviewed for the study. Activists
varied from Ex Secretary of Education Dept. of Kerala to primary
teachers. Interviews were of two way discussions and occurred in
DIET offices, Parishad bhavan (KSSP district centre), schools, and
in houses of activists across five districts in Kerala.

 Observation

A science camp conducted in a primary school was observed for this

study. The camp was a coordinated by a KSSP activist, so the
leadership for organizing such programs was observed.
 FINDINGS

1. Understanding Kerala – Education system

After the independence from the first
government itself Kerala had a good common education program. 12
years of schooling is free in and there is primary schools within 1 km
neighborhood and within 5 km’s and 6 km’s distance high schools and
higher secondary schools respectively exist. From the long back the
school structure is 4+3+3+2 and is not changed even after RTE
implemented. Literacy movement and Library movements were given
good foundation for learning culture in Kerala.

2. History of KSSP – Transformation and changes in time.

History of KSSP can traced from people’s science movement started in
1957 by some activists from social reformers and science writers. The aim
was to popularize science by translating science books to simple language.
But due to many reasons only a few books could published at that time
and later it lost it momentum. In 1962 following this a group of 30 science
writers formed KSSP as a full-fledged organization. At that time none of
literary magazines were publishes science articles and so KSSP felt need
to publish science articles which interact to common people and in mother
tongue. Started a quarterly journal named Shastragathi (Trend of science
in 1967). Following this later came magazines like Eureka (1970), shastra
Kerala (1969) etc. exclusively for school children in primary and
secondary respectively. Started publishing other books also like
‘keralathinte sampath’ (Wealth of Kerala in 1976) prepared by experts in
area of education, energy, agriculture etc. deals with what was our past,
present and what we needed. Followed by many book publishing for
children teachers and public. Started to conduct classes and seminars in
public areas about topics in those books. Also actively participated in
social movements like silent valley protest. Began to intervene in school
education by teacher training in 1965. Organized children outside school
and conducted camps in the name of Balavedi (1977) and continued
throughout the journey. Later they could organize all India camps (1987)
where students from many states came and participated. Ernakulam
literacy program in (1989) to make it 100% literacy district. In 1993-94
to implement DPEP program team of KSSP played a good role. Started
Education Research Unit (1997). Kerala Education Commission set under
Ashok Mitra by KSSP in 1998. Activists of KSSP were part Kerala
curriculum frame work (1996 and 2007). Classes and campaigns against
superstitions, other social and environmental issues etc. (for example
Naattu pacha in January 2015). For conservation of energy they took
initiative to produce energy saving choolas, Heat box etc. and sold in
society.

3. Background of activists in the organization

Background of the volunteers of an organization is very important while
studying about it. As it mentioned in the history part it was initially the
science writers who only constituted the organization but later within
years KSSP welcomed any people who believes science has great role to
play in moulding our life. This helped KSSP to act in wide variety of areas
in life and to become a mass movement. Now Parishad has workers from
experts like scientists, educational functionaries, teachers, social
reformers, students, farmers, housewives etc. The people with
background in educational office and hold in governments can become a
pressure group to include vision of KSSP in education department and
also teachers in school can make it success inside classroom. Other people
can support from outside school and in other programs like campaigns.

4. Publication for science education

The at most aim of KSSP from its beginning was to popularize science
through publishing of science articles, books, journals etc. in simple
language. Even now also the biggest and most important contribution of
KSSP is their publications. They have a good resource of writers varies
from who deals with Astronomy to cartoons for very young children as
the activists. Aadhunika shastram or Modern science is the pioneer book
published by people’s science movement in 1958. In 1966 KSSP started
a quarterly named Shastragathi which focused the society as whole. After
this KSSP started different magazines aiming different sections.
 Magazines – Eureka, Shastra Kerala and Shastragathi
Eureka is a fortnightly publishing exclusively for primary children from
3rd class to 7th class. Aim is to develop habit of reading along with a
conscious of science in children. Articles coming in the Eureka are used
put together and publish as books also. In every year one special issue will
be for which the year is important and one will be developed by children’s
own. Shastra Kerala is a monthly for high school students and it possess
some more seriousness also. It is widely read by elder people also and
have good receive in public libraries. There is place for critically analyse
the social issues around us also along with science articles. Shastragathi
is totally for KSSP activists with discussions on societal needs and also to
keep science awareness among them live. This is also a monthly
magazine. Parishad vartha is a Journal contains the news and reports about
the programs of KSSP.
  Science Books for children’s
KSSP published hundreds of books exclusively for children’s in simple
language of their style. Mostly the nature of these books are like
storytelling and poems etc. through which children could learn science. In
1977 KSSP published a set of books in the name Sammana petty. Which
was a great success and got wide acceptance. Following this in1980 in the
universal child year KSSP published 50 child science books and also an
encyclopedia for children. This patterns in followed now also with names
like pusthaka poomazha, akshara poomazha etc.
 School education and awareness for public
To assist school education KSSP had published a lot many books in time
to time. In 1980 KSSP published a book questioning unscientific
preprimary teaching methods and a lots of other books later also which
questioning and giving suggestion and models for pedagogical practices
in class rooms. In1981 they published a guide for teaching in primary
science and later it expanded to all sections and continued realizing the
greater need. Also published audio, video cassettes and science dictionary
etc. to help in school education. Took initiative to start science clubs and
given it’s follow up.
To help in curriculum or broadly education in schools KSSP published
curriculum approach paper in 1997 and also reports of many educational
commission were translated and interpreted to books. There were many
KSSP activist participated in curriculum framing also. And In DPEP
program one of Parishad activist named O M Shankaran was coordinator
for state project and he tried to implement the recommendations of
Yeshpal committee report.
KSSP started publishing books to create science awareness in public from
its starting itself. They used to publish books which examine social issues,
superstition beliefs, environmental problems, etc. when needed.
‘Keralathinte sambath’, ‘Atomic Energy’ etc. are examples.

5. Pedagogy in class rooms and evaluation

KSSP trained their activist how to use simpler language while teaching
instead of pedantic language and also to motivate children, shows
empathy to them, understand their emotions etc. KSSP started their first
intervention by giving training to teachers in 1965. In 70’s and 80’s when
curriculum changed there was a huge gap arouse in the lack of
departmental training, so Parishad given training to them to experiment
new pedagogic practices. Provided opportunities for teachers to learn
more by conducting camps for them. Trains them to do as many
experiments and also how to use TLM’s wisely. The research unit
develops low cost laboratories and new teaching aids which helps children
to learn easily. KSSP used to conduct rally’s where activists and students
will participate and visit different schools and shows skits, experiments
etc. to teach children and gives a guide for teachers how to teach.
Balavedi’s are one major initiative of KSSP which have drastic influence
in child learning and teachers who are part of KSSP. This is an
organizational set up for children which conducts camps in vacations.
Here KSSP experiments a parallel curriculum and pedagogy in children
outside the class rooms. Here learning will occur in a holistic way and
through activities, games, fun, discussions etc. teachers who conduct this
camps will brought this way to class rooms and also encourage their
colleague’s also to teach using critical pedagogy.
The concern and problems raised by Radhakrishnan Report in 1948 is
prevailing or not solved even in evaluation method. KSSP wants to
change the method of testing ignorance of child and considered it as
assessment for learning. KSSP started talent search examination in 1973
where assessment happened in totally unconventional way. Conduct
exams to assess by considering multiple intelligence theory by Garner,
giving question in one week advance of exam, conducted all India level
competition along with a 7 day residential camp. And find interesting
from observation of science camp when the coordinator was asking
questions based on experiments doing and all the answers were got
applauses from him and no try to correcting was seen instead made every
student to hear everyone learn mistakes or the other ways to answer.

6. Miscellaneous
KSSP model : Reaching to common people with awareness classes,
organizing such classes through public libraries and social clubs, training
to make small things like soaps, crafts etc., teach them to raise voice
against exploitation and facilitate them to find solutions using scientific
methods. KSSP raise funds for their all programs by selling books only
and they are not receiving any funds from outside. They helps schools to
start laboratories in low cost. Developing TLM’s and researches going on
these in Educational Research unit and they are developing Energy saving
equipment’s which can be useful in day to day life IRTC center Palakkad.
KSSP is now expanded its administrative structure and there are
subcommittees like Education, under which all the programs related to
school education comes, Health, Environment, and Vignanolsav etc. But
now it seems whatever innovation they brought up were accepted widely
and begun under formal institutions KSSP is struggling to come up with
new ideas. Only the publications and awareness classes have momentum
now.
KSSP have good connection with organization like Ekalavya, thulir etc.
and they works together by exchanging support and ideas. And in all India
camps organized by KSSP children from other states participate with the
help of them and they allocate resource person when needed.

Galileo little scientist program : There was a superstition existed

that in the time solar eclipse its danger to go outside and is a bad sign from
god, so may get harm and all. So to make understand it is only natural
process and nothing to do with such beliefs KSSP utilized the solar eclipse
in 2009. First a team went to Goa where schools have observatories and
studied, given training to resource person in each district to use
observatories and make students to see solar eclipse in all schools. Provide
observatories, sun glasses etc. to every schools in collaboration with
government. And most of the students and public (through observatories
arranged in public places) saw solar eclipse.
Discussions

 KSSP was an inevitable part of Kerala Education system from a

long time (Activist are part of formal system also)
 They are flexible to come up with programs to meet the time
 Their publication are worth doing in developing scientific temper
among people of Kerala (circulation and fund raising only from
book)
 Balavedi’s are worth learning for children and teachers (pedagogy
transmitted to class also)
 They have well planning and clear ideas to implement the
programs (ex. Galileo little scientist)
 They can be a model and study about KSSP will help for other
states too. (inter-state cooperation is success)
 They are not much active now as they were in 80’s to 2000 in
school education but is in social issues
 Conclusion
KSSP is an organization started to popularize science among peoples of
Kerala. They came up with many innovations in school education and of
public awareness programs. They were success in their target to develop
science awareness in Kerala. They have national level planning’s with
organization’s in other states and can be taken as model for many states.

Reference
(2007). Kerala Curriculum Framework. Kerala Education Department.

Madangarly, P. P. (n.d.). Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad: Yesterday,

Today, Tomorrow : History of KSSP, Current programs, Targets.

(2005). National Curriculum Framework.

T.M.Thomas Issac and B. Ekbal, Experience of KSSP (T~SSUT, 1988),

pp. 1 - 2.

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