Giving India’s Gifted and Talented Children a Boost

For many years I have lamented that gifted and talented kids get not much support in India. Here is a recent assessment: gifted education is yet to be part of a formal educational policy in the country. 

In this note, I present what I think is a workable idea. It builds on what has been happening informally at the local level.

At the same time, I know that I am not an operational person – just an ‘idea man.’ So, if this is to be implemented, it would need someone who is hands-on to do it. That’s not me. Are you? Do you know someone who is?

Concept

The idea is to connect electronically (using tablets and smartphones) gifted and talented Indian children, particularly girls and those in small towns and villages, in all fields with mentors throughout India, and possibly even other countries.

The mentors would be volunteers either under 30 years old with say, 5 years’ work/field experience, or retired people. They would offer semi-customized guidance to the children

The sponsors would bear all the costs. The capital costs per child could be less than $ 100.

Key details

Kids

1.     Age-group 5-12, with a focus on 7-9 years old. Young enough to start at an early age, old enough to get external help.

2.     Half boys, half girls.

3.     Open to all fields - academic, dance, music, sports, whatever.

4.     Each kid has two mentors - prevent one-sided help.

5.     Selected to meet a high standard. Not a mass program. It would take some time and resources to define the selection criteria.

Mentors

1.     One group - young people under 30 (or some other number) with 5 (or some other number) years’ work experience.

2.     Second group - senior, retired people.

3.     No payments.

4.     Specialists in particular fields. Necessary to guide children with specific talent.

5.     Chosen from all of India, possibly worldwide to include at least NRIs.

Guidance

1.     Semi-customized guidance, meaning some basic rules to be followed, rest would be worked out for the kid. Bottom-up approach.

2.     Video meeting at least once a week, with adult supervision at the kid’s place. No adult - no meeting. No secrets.

3.     Monthly report by mentor and student.

4.     Mentors cannot be local - maintain distance and objectivity, and be forced to use modern, electronic methods.

5.     Local coordinator to handle all local issues.

Pilot

It would be implemented as a pilot in three districts in a particular State. For example, Jaipur, Dausa, and Alwar in Rajasthan, or the Mumbai-Pune corridor, chosen for convenience.

Pilot would have 20 kids in each State, with 6 mentors for each State. 40 kids, 12 mentors. 

All electronic, using phones and tablets.

Next steps

Anyone interested in making this operational would start. Could be more than one person. I would organize some help for them. Then, we will see what we can actually get done.

Everything is open for discussion at this time.