Kolkata Mary Ward Social centre | Empowering Educators: Barefoot Teachers Training at Lady Queen of the Mission School

Empowering Educators: Barefoot Teachers Training at Lady Queen of the Mission School

01 Mar 2025 - 01 Mar 2025
10.30am
Our Lady Queen of the Mission School, Kolkata

On 1st March 2025, the Barefoot Teachers Training Programme brought its grassroots pedagogical ethos to Our Lady Queen of the Mission School in Kolkata, equipping 10 teachers with innovative, child-centric teaching strategies. Designed to bridge theory and practice, the training blended cultural reverence, foundational educational principles, and hands-on creativity, fostering educators who can thrive in resource-limited settings.

The training commenced with a prayer, setting a reflective and positive tone for the day. This was followed by a discussion on expectations from the training, where participants shared their learning goals and what they hoped to achieve.

Highlights of the Training:

A brief introduction to the Barefoot Teachers Training Programme was provided, emphasising its objective of empowering teachers with practical and effective teaching strategies. The session then covered key topics, including:

Qualities of an Effective Teacher – Understanding the essential attributes that contribute to impactful teaching.

Understanding Children's Characteristics – Exploring the cognitive and emotional development of children to tailor teaching approaches accordingly.

Action Rhymes – Engaging children through interactive and fun learning methods.

Child Rights and Right to Education (RTE) – Raising awareness about the legal and ethical responsibilities of educators in ensuring every child’s right to education.

Teaching Learning Materials (TLM) Preparation on Language Development – Hands-on training on creating simple, effective teaching aids for language learning.

Art and Craft in Action Rhymes – Integrating creativity into classroom activities to make learning more engaging.

The training concluded with a feedback session, where teachers reflected on their learning experiences and shared insights on how they would implement their newfound knowledge in their classrooms.

Voices from the Training:

“The session on Action Rhymes showed me how play and learning can coexist. My students will love these methods!”

Participating Teacher

“Barefoot training isn’t just about skills — it is about rethinking education as a tool for social change.”

Barefoot Programme Facilitator

Impact & Takeaways:

The training reinforced the power of localised, low-resource education models, equipping teachers to create vibrant classrooms even in under-resourced environments. By integrating art, law, and child psychology, the programme empowers educators to become advocates for holistic, rights-based learning.