Penn State

Consortium forSocial Movements and Education
Research and Practice

Movement Actors in the Education Bureaucracy: The Figured World of Activity Based Learning in Tamil Nadu

Movement Actors in the Education Bureaucracy: The Figured World of Activity Based Learning in Tamil Nadu

Tricia Niesz, Ramchandar Krishnamurthy
2014
2014

Abstract

Tamil Nadu has gained international recognition for reforming its government school classrooms into active, child-centered learning environments. Our exploration of the history of the Activity Based Learning movement suggests that this reform was achieved by social movement actors serving in and through the state's administration. Participants in people's movements and progressive education initiatives partnered with state officers to form an influential network, a “figured world” of counterhegemonic education knowledge, that ultimately transformed classrooms in over 37,000 schools.

Abstract

Tamil Nadu has gained international recognition for reforming its government school classrooms into active, child-centered learning environments. Our exploration of the history of the Activity Based Learning movement suggests that this reform was achieved by social movement actors serving in and through the state's administration. Participants in people's movements and progressive education initiatives partnered with state officers to form an influential network, a “figured world” of counterhegemonic education knowledge, that ultimately transformed classrooms in over 37,000 schools.

Social Movements

Popular movements, School Reform Movements

Keywords

Asia, Policy, Public Schooling

Theme

Social Movements Within; Through; and for Public Education