Jain Digest 1998 04

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 18

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Curriculum for Pathshalas in North America
The most important goal of the conference was to develop a curriculum that would be acceptable to all the JAINA affiliated Jain Centers. Dr. Premchand Gada, chairman of JAINA Education Committee, and Pankaj Shah, Director of Education, JCGB, explained the process through which they had reviewed current curriculum from major Pathshalas and the new and existing Pathshala teaching material, and after identifying objectives and guidelines, how they came up with a proposed curriculum. The proposed curriculum was presented in a joint session. Five groups were assigned to review the curriculum in separate breakout sessions for each Level. The sessions chairs for each level were - Level 1, age 4- 6, (grade pre-school - 1) - Jyotindra Doshi, Level 2, age 7-9, (grade 2-4), Jaya Nagda, Level 3, age 9-12 (grade 4-7), Kirit Gosalia, Level 4, age 12-14, (grade 7-9), Pallavi Gala, Level 5, (High School), Mahendra Shah (Detroit).
"Congratulations to all [ Leveraging Technology
volunteers of Boston who Further re-enforcing the need to adopt productive and enjoyable new methodology, Prem Jain of Northern many dedicated, non-sel California, gave a key note address on "Leveraging Technology/Internet in Education." He discussed the use of Internet to develop a virtual Pathshala He urged all the Pathshala teachers to be well versed on the use of email and Internet and that all teaching material and curriculum and lesson plan be placed on the Internet such that students and parents can have instant access to them.
Developing a Vision/Mission/Organization Plan for Jain Education
In this session, coordinated by Harendra Shah and Prem Jain, the attendees brainstormed on a Vision/Mission. After many ideas were floated, a task team consisting of Amar Salgia, Sanjay Jain, and Balbhadraji was assigned to finalize a mission statement. The following mission statement was presented to the attendees: Instill Spiritual development, self-awareness, moral consciousness, social well-being, and Jain identity in individuals, based on the principles of Jainism
Model Curriculum
After the breakout sessions, each session chair presented summarized feedback on the each aspect of the proposed curriculum. Most of the teachers felt comfortable with using word "Model curriculum" instead of “Proposed Curriculum". There was a common consensus to accept the most of the curriculum material except for the "memorization of sutras". Dr. Dhiraj Shah, JAINA's president emphasized JAINA's commitment to develop a common curriculum and would work with all centers. He mentioned that it would be at the discretion of each Jain centers how to conduct their Pathshalas. He also stated that JAINA plans to conduct an annual examinations primarily to reward and motivate the Pathshala students as well as parents.
New Books Published
Outside the conference halls there were exhibits of unique Jain Books and a large display of the latest Jain teaching material which is being incorporated in the curriculum. Specifically to commemorate the conference, JCGB organized publishing of the following eight new books/study guides:
- Jain Story Books by Manubhai Doshi - Pathshala Level III and Level IV books compiled by IAINA Educa
tion Committee - Primary Principles of Jainism compiled by Harendra Shah/
Manubhai Doshi Question and Answers about Jainism compiled by Harendra
Shah/Manubhai Doshi - Shevatambar and Digambar Pooja in Gujarati and Hindi, com
piled by Ratibhai Dodhia - Excerpts from Unfinished Book by Amar Salgia
Four other books were reprinted. Ordering information of these books will be sent to presidents of each Jain Center separately.
Curriculum Conclusion
It was concluded that after incorporating the feedback from various sessions of this conference, JAINA Education Committee would propose the Model curriculum. The teachers/educators who were present and those who could not come would be requested to give their feed back before the curriculum is finalized. Then, the "Model Curriculum" will be sent out to all Jain centers for implementation. The memorization of sutras would be left at the discretion of individual Pathshalas and their teachers.
Now that the curriculum issue was satisfactorily addressed, the conference attendees moved to many other important issues described below that were addressed in joint sessions or in break out sessions or in speeches during meals.
Teachers Training/Qualification/Lesson Plan
This session, which was coordinated by Pravin Shah and Balbhadraji concluded that a lesson plan must be developed by teachers to maintain continuity and documentation. The teachers must loosen up and use as much interactive material as possible. Other discussions revolved around the urgent need to develop teacher's guide, how do we ensure quality teaching, and how should be qualify teachers ?
"A truly historic and long needed Jain education conference in North America."
-Mukesh Doshi, Chicago
Jain Education Intemational