Slates to help children's education in Sir Lanka

In primary schools, where more proactive teaching methods are required, teachers often spend a lot of time either seeing individual children or with a queue of children waiting to see them. This can be a lengthy process and takes time away from other class activities.

Often school supplies are expensive and not all parents can provide new exercise books for their children.

Plan is supporting a practical approach to ensuring an interactive way of teaching by introducing individual slates for each child in communities in Sri Lanka.

A producer of unbreakable slates created special child-sized versions that were distributed to 1,273 students in the first two grades of all Plan-supported schools in the area and training for primary teachers on how to use the slates in class was organised.

The teachers, principals and education department officials were delighted by how practical the slates and parents were pleased with how cheap they would be as the slates can be used over and over again.

Children can now show the teacher what they have written simply by holding up their slates, and the teacher can suggest corrections and make observations to ensure all the children understand and follow what is being taught.

Individual slates unite the class and promote communication and sharing. Children can help one another and share ideas, and teachers can easily assess the children's understanding. The slates also encourage child-to-child activities and learning because students can work at the same time and show their efforts to one another.

Each child is responsible for his or her own slate and is allowed to take it home. This encourages creativity and the completion of their homework.

"We can write big on the slate," said Amila, a second grade student. "The teacher shows us how to write. I draw snakes, cats and flowers on the slate. My friends also draw. We show the teachers. Our teacher says 'good' and shows our drawings to the class. Then we all clap!"