Launched in September 2007, the Agastya International Foundation’s Young Instructor Leader (YIL) programme is a peer-to-peer teaching-learning initiative under which “bright and talented” students from government schools transform into student-instructors. Currently operational in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, relatively gifted class VI-X students in government schools are selected for intensive 10-50 days training to transform into YILs. Thus far, over 3,361 YILs have been trained and mentored to assume the role of student instructors to their peers.
“Under the YIL programme, Agastya has used India’s centuries-old peer-to-peer learning model to deliver practical, hands-on science education to students. Our instructors have been briefed to keep their eyes and ears open for students who display innate curiosity and think laterally. These selected students are trained and mentored under a specially designed programme at our Kuppam campus, Bangalore and Hubli satellite science centres to lead physics, chemistry, biology and ecology learners through live experiments. Once ready, YILs assume leadership roles in our mega science fairs. Every day, 30 YILs are invited to our Kuppam campus to lead science experiments and explain project assignments to visiting students. YILs are also role models and change agents in their own schools and local communities,” says Uday Kumar R, a geology postgraduate of Bangalore University who heads Agastya’s YIL programme.
On the same lines, the foundation organises regular ‘children-teaching-children’ programmes in government schools. For instance in February, Agastya conducted a children-teaching-children programme at the Zilla Parishad High School, Kenamankanapalli village in Andhra Pradesh in which class VIII YILs discussed and explained the scientific principles and mechanics behind designing a periscope to students.
Obviously the brightest and best students in each age group, YIL students are also selected to prepare, participate and present innovative science projects at Intel’s mega Initiative in Research and Innovations in Science (IRIS) annual national science competition. Together with Agastya teachers, since 2008 when YILs began participating in IRIS, a remarkable eight of them have won special awards. In the recently concluded IRIS 2011, YILs Bhargavi Lokeshwari and Jyothsana Thirupati, class VIII students of the Zilla Parishad School, Settipally, Kuppam, won an all-expenses paid trip to participate in the apex-level Intel International Science and Engineering Fair scheduled to be held in Pittsburgh, USA in May. “We were selected by the foundation’s mobile science van teacher-instructors visiting our school. Later we visited the Kuppam campus where we trained to become YILs. The YIL programme which prepared us for IRIS has completely transformed our lives. We have become heroes in our communities earning respect and admiration,” says Bhargavi.
A college scholarship programme for YILs was also introduced in 2009. Thus far, 205 YILs have been awarded scholarships of Rs.1,500 per year to pursue higher secondary studies. “Over the years we hope the YIL programme will play a significant role in raising rural productivity and produce future leaders, innovators and technologists needed for an economically prosperous and sustainable rural India,” says Kumar.