The Saharsh initiative is a comprehensive school education program launched by the Tripura government in India. Its primary aim is to foster joyful learning experiences for students and reduce school dropout rates. This program represents a significant effort to transform the educational landscape by introducing a more holistic and engaging approach to schooling.
Objectives and Core Philosophy
The Saharsh initiative is built upon the principle of “learning with happiness,” aiming to make education engaging and free from undue pressure. It seeks to achieve holistic development in students by improving foundational literacy and numeracy skills while prioritizing their emotional well-being. The program emphasizes a child-centric approach, incorporating activity-based learning and play-based methodologies. This approach cultivates an environment where children feel motivated and eager to learn, moving beyond traditional textbook dependence.
The initiative integrates social and emotional learning (SEL) through five key pillars:
Self-management
Self-awareness
Responsible decision-making
Relationship skills
Social awareness
These components are crucial for students to succeed not only academically but also in life. By integrating SEL, Saharsh aims to empower children to understand and manage their emotions, set positive goals, show empathy, build healthy relationships, and make sound decisions.
Key Components and Activities
The Saharsh program incorporates components and activities designed to make learning interactive and enjoyable. Daily Saharsh classes integrate into the existing school day, featuring mindfulness sessions, including mindful breathing and eating. Storytelling with open-ended discussions and reflective conversations are central to the curriculum, encouraging self-expression and empathy.
The curriculum involves engaging activities and games where students participate with their peers and teachers. This approach extends to foundational learning for early grades, making subjects like language and mathematics more accessible and enjoyable through experiential activities. The initiative also promotes “Bagless Days,” dedicated to experiential learning, and incorporates art integration to enhance the overall learning experience.
Implementation and Reach
The Saharsh initiative launched as a pilot project in August 2022, covering 40 schools across different districts of Tripura. Following its successful pilot phase, the program extended to all government and government-aided schools in Tripura starting January 2023. This expansion positioned Tripura as the first state in the North East and Eastern zone to implement a statewide social-emotional learning program aligned with the New Education Policy 2020.
The program currently impacts over 4 lakh students from Class I to VIII in more than 4000 government schools. Implementation involves significant teacher training, with plans to train approximately 5,316 school teachers under the Saharsh Special Education Programme. Training sessions are conducted in batches across all eight districts of Tripura, focusing on the program’s objectives, principles, and methods for conducting mindfulness and experiential learning activities. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and Labhya Foundation collaborate on this initiative, with assistant headmasters also serving as implementation ambassadors.
Impact and Future Outlook
The Saharsh initiative has demonstrated positive impacts on students and the overall educational environment. Preliminary research indicates significant improvements in classroom engagement, empathy, and emotional resilience among students participating in the program. The program has also contributed to a reduction in student absenteeism and strengthened the student-teacher relationship.
Benefits include an increased joy in learning and improved mental well-being for students, with studies suggesting positive effects on academic performance, including in mathematics, and a reduction in anxiety, particularly among girls. Looking ahead, the success of Saharsh in Tripura has led to interest in evaluating its potential for expansion to other states across India. The creation of Saharsh Model Schools of Change is also envisioned, serving as beacons for this innovative approach to education.