Page:SELECTED ESSAYS of Dr. S. S. KALBAG.pdf/285

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shaping this project. LAHI not only agreed to support the project financially, but also decided to develope an exhaustive web based monitoring system for the programme which was considered to be critical for success of the programme as well as for universal replication. In the first phase of PLAN 100, IBT was launched in 6 schools in 2006-07. Till 2003, IBT was an experiment. Under PLAN 100, the effort is to streamline and package the programme for facilitating its scaling up. Implementation guidelines were published in Marathi. One VA field officer is appointed for every 10 schools. Now field Officers visit the school every month and provide mentoring to the IBT instructors. Regular training programme for IBT instructors were started during summer and winter vacations. Training hall and workshop infrastructure were upgraded with LAHI's support. Number of schools increased from 16 in 2006 to 28 in 2007 and 55 in 2008. Online monitoring system was made available in 2008 (www.lahi-impact.org). VA also made a website for schools at www.techshala.com On the government front, the SSC board formed a committee in 2005 to review syllabus of the IBT programme. The new syllabus came into effect from 2006. Teacher's handbooks were also prepared for IX and X standards. In 2007, Dombaranhally school in Karnataka joined the IBT programme. This is the first school outside Maharashtra to join IBT. In 2008, IBT started in six more schools in Karnataka. IBT started crossing the state boundaries. Rural Development Through Education System 272