STAR Education Transforming Manipur Government Schools with Technology and Real-Time Data

The System Transformation and Rejuvenation of Education (STAR) Education initiative, under the School Fagathansi Mission, is aiming to revolutionize the quality of education in government schools. This ambitious plan leverages technology to enhance learning outcomes and completely transform teaching and learning methodologies across the state’s government schools.
In a positive departure from the national trend, Manipur has witnessed a remarkable 21% increase in enrollment in government schools earlier this year. With this surge in student enrollment, the focus now shifts towards maximizing the learning outcomes in these institutions. It is crucial to prioritize learning recovery and increase investment in education to ensure that future generations in Manipur can overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic and ongoing conflict.
The unique circumstances faced by Manipur, such as internet bans and school closures, have prompted STAR Education to adopt an innovative offline-online approach. Even during school closures, the program ensured that students in relief camps received 3-4 hours of engaging learning activities. Despite the absence of internet access, a technology-enabled system allowed headmasters and headmistresses to upload and download vital data and lesson guides every few weeks, ensuring digital transparency and continuous support.
STAR Education, as part of the School Fagathansi Mission, has unveiled a comprehensive ecosystem aimed at transforming education in Manipur’s government schools. This initiative incorporates key components to provide holistic support to students and teachers, leveraging technology and global benchmarks.
One of the core elements of STAR Education is the establishment of 360-degree support teams. These teams specialize in various areas such as academic development, IT support, community engagement, quality assurance, and measurement & evaluation. Their expertise ensures that all aspects of education are addressed effectively.
Technology plays a pivotal role in STAR Education’s approach. The program empowers school leaders with a technology platform that enables transparent and efficient management of classrooms and schools. Teachers can utilize this platform to monitor student and teacher performance, track attendance, conduct classroom observations, and handle administrative functions seamlessly.
To bridge the digital divide, STAR Education integrates teacher tablets into the educational environment. Equipped with these tablets, teachers can manage student attendance, deliver lessons, and track completion. This integration enhances the understanding of the educational landscape and promotes a more inclusive approach to learning.
A key aspect of STAR Education is its commitment to both local contextualization and global benchmarking. Through intensive fieldwork, the program identifies specific learning needs, assesses teacher capabilities, and aligns the local syllabus with globally benchmarked assessment tools. This ensures that students are prepared for a future of global competitiveness.
Recognizing the importance of educators, STAR Education provides intensive training for government teachers and headmasters/headmistresses. This training equips them with essential leadership skills, effective classroom management techniques, and technical competencies. Additionally, each headmaster/mistress receives a synchronized smartphone with digital teaching guides, facilitating easy access to daily lesson plans and promoting continuous professional development.
To ensure continuous improvement, STAR Education emphasizes continuous monitoring, feedback, and coaching. This approach allows for the adaptation of teaching methods to address specific learning needs and enhance teacher delivery in the classrooms.
In just 18 weeks of implementation, STAR Education has made remarkable progress in improving student learning outcomes. The recently conducted 2023 MIDLINE survey for the program reveals significant advancements in fluency and numeracy skills among students enrolled in STAR Education.
According to the survey results, students in the STAR program exhibited a remarkable 12-word-per-minute increase in fluency compared to their non-STAR counterparts. This improvement demonstrates the effectiveness of the program’s teaching methodologies. Additionally, numeracy skills saw an 8% boost, providing a clear advantage for schools that have adopted STAR Education.
The impact of STAR Education goes beyond the numbers. The program has built trust among schools, leading to a remarkable 43% increase in enrollments compared to the state-wide average at the beginning of 2023. This surge in enrollment reflects the confidence that schools and parents have in the transformative model offered by STAR Education.
STAR Education is committed to offering a comprehensive approach that combines technology, teacher empowerment, and continuous monitoring. By addressing the challenges posed by conflict and prolonged school closures, the program aims to mitigate the adverse effects on education. The government’s dedication to transforming education in Manipur serves as an inspiring example for the entire nation, highlighting the power of education in promoting social justice and economic upliftment.
As Manipur navigates through these challenging times, STAR Education is making a significant impact, paving the way for a brighter future in education.