The document summarizes Mantra Social Services' School Transformation and Empowerment Project (STEP), which aims to improve the quality of education in underprivileged schools over 18 months. STEP conducted an initial needs assessment of 9 schools and is now partnering with 4 private and 3 government schools. Feedback from education officials and school administrators praise STEP's detailed analysis and commitment to driving long-term school improvements through teacher development and establishing clear goals.

1. 4 months into engaging with stakeholders as part of our project to transform schools, this is what they have to say
The ‘School Transformation and Empowerment Project’ (STEP) is an initiative of MANTRA Social Services
Testimonials

2. What is STEP?
School Transformation and Empowerment Project (STEP) is an initiative of MANTRA designed to improve and promote quality in existing schools serving the socio-economically disadvantaged localities in the city. Through a multi staged School Improvement Framework and holistic approach, STEP intends to bring in coherence to school-wide activities aimed at re- defining and improving the quality of outcomes expected at partner schools.
In the current academic year (2014-2015), MANTRA engaged with 9 schools for the first stage of STEP with a need assessment and report for clarifying and aligning to school’s purpose. Following this we entered into a two year learning focused partnership with 4 low-fee private schools and 3 government run schools to plan and implement the next stage of STEP over the next 18 months.

3. “I gave Mantra4Change 3 schools for their study. The Head Mistresses(HMs) and the Cluster Resource Persons(CRPs) were very happy with their vision and agreed wholeheartedly.
They came to me with a detailed report(of stage 1 of STEP) with pictorial representation of the observed statistics. I am impressed with the work they have done and hope that we can work together to bring substantial changes into the current education system in government schools. They have all my support related to this effort and I wish them all the very best.”
Mrs. Nagarathnamma D
Block Education Officer(BEO),
Bangalore South Block -2,
Department of Public Education, Karnataka
03 October, 2014

4. STEP Stage-1 Fact File

5. “Report(from stage 1 of STEP) was very clear. Got the real fact about the schools' performance in terms of teachers' skills, will factor and reasons for the teachers' positive attitude and otherwise.
It helps the department to set up a minimal(learning level) goal for schools and teachers to be achieved in a fixed time span. Helps in motivating teachers, executives of the department to bring in the expected quality in children's education and all round development.”
Mrs. Amudha
Cluster Resource Person (CRP)
Binnypet, Bangalore South Block -2
Department of Public Education - Karnataka
01 October, 2014

7. “Its wonderful to see the commitment of the team . MANTRA has already got me and our teachers engaged and excited about their work. We have begun to understand the gaps and all set to work along with Mantra team to bridge the gaps. I am glad that Mantra would be working with us for the next two years .”
Mrs. Usma Banu
Head Mistress(HM), St. SARA’s High School, Koramangala - Bangalore
15 July, 2014

8. “I appreciate the work that MANTRA team has done. This is pure innovation and the way they are trying to bring about change is the best approach. They have taken into account the min-utest of things during their classroom observation which affects the teaching and learning process. .”
Sister Nisha
Head Mistress(HM),
Nirmala Primary School ,
Wilso n Garden , Bangalore
15 July, 2014

10. “Mantra- NGO, is working with us since one month. I was really surprised to see that within such a short span of time they collected so much of information and suggested us in a positive way what best can be done for the school.
Usually we think that some external body entering into school will result in interruption but in this case it was not. I am really thankful to them for taking an approach which not only suggests areas of improvement but also shows where the system is doing right. I welcome such organizations who are willing to be part of the system to improve education.”
Mrs. Veena Naik
Head Mistress(HM),
Government Model Primary School – Attiguppe
Bangalore South Block -2
29 September, 2014

11. Strategic intent: Year One
For Partner School
For MANTRA
100% STEP school leaders should be able to invest school team in crafting vision-mission and goals for their school AND every school team should display the will, skill and ownership to drive a positive school culture in demanding environment
90% of all teaching staff at STEP partner schools should participate in activities and sessions aimed at building capacity and creating conditions of effectiveness for implementing a school improvement plan AND 70% of participants(at the least) should find activities useful and follow through with the action items
Design and contextualise an effective School Improvement Framework* for underachieving private/government schools, based on proof points and ‘conditions for effectiveness’ of STEP activities in partner schools
Develop personalised tools and processes that enables similar schools to meet quality standards and outcomes indicated by national or state level quality accreditation frameworks**
Benchmark academic outcomes for students and competencies for teacher effectiveness in similar schools through ongoing evaluation and analysis of teaching-learning process in partner schools
*MANTRA currently refers to the ‘School Improvement Planning Framework(‘© TDA) and suite of tools developed by the TDA - Training and Development Agency for Schools,UK for designing various stages of intervention.
* * The SQAAF( School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Form) and KSQAAC (Karnataka School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Council) list various indicators and sub-indicators for quality through measurement rubrics

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