The Education Ministry launched Self Instructional Materials (SIM) today. It is an alternative educational resource for those who do not have access to internet, BBS and e-learning facilities.
The materials are printed version of the lessons covered through BBS for classes PP to XII. It is expected to support nearly 17,000 students.
The learning activities in the SIM packages are developed considering the Education in the Emergency curriculum, class levels and learning potentials of the students. The materials are divided into five packages or volumes that includes learning materials for classes PP to XII. The lessons from the first package will begin from today and continue till 8th May. The designs of the learning activities are intended technically to promote self-engagement and independent learning of the students at home.
Phuntsho Lhamo, and Education Specialist and Advisor to the Department of School Education at the Education Ministry said the SIM contains integrated video lessons that have been aired on BBS and additional hands-on activities for the children. “So this material is more or less like the teacher being there. So the instructions are very simple and interactive,” she said.
Prior to the launch of the materials, the Education Ministry had distributed and carried out a pilot testing with 66 children in Dagana, Punakha, Paro and Thimphu.
“So the outcome or the analysis of the survey or feedback is, it has helped us to improve the second package; we assume the children will learn but the feedback from them was in terms of illustrations, concept, the clarity of the language, and the instructions being not very clear. So when we developed the second package, it gave us a lot of insights that we could draw upon and we have been able to fix that second package according to the levels and the feedback. So I think that’s been very helpful,” she added.
The Ministry also launched the recorded radio lessons of the self-instructional materials which will be for classes PP to III. The lessons will be aired daily on Kuzoo from 10:30 am to 12 pm and will be continued from 2 to 5 pm on BBS radio to further support them with their self-instructional materials.
Sonam Pem
