Building Grassroots Capacity: Keonjhar Teacher Training Initiative

Empowering Educators to Identify and Support Every Child

In partnership with district education authorities, Jiveesha conducted comprehensive neurodevelopmental screening training across two blocks of Keonjhar district, Odisha—one of India's aspirational districts with significant tribal population and unique developmental challenges.

Implementation Details

Geographic Scope:

• Blocks Covered: Banspal and Harichandanpur

• Participants: 90+ teachers and Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs)

• Institutions Reached: Government primary schools and anganwadi centers across both blocks

• Target Beneficiaries: Approximately 3,000+ children across participating institutions

Training Architecture:

Phase 1: Foundation Building (3 days)

• Understanding neurodevelopmental domains and typical milestones

• Introduction to Jiveesha screening protocol and platform

• Recognizing red flags across developmental areas

• Cultural sensitivity in tribal and rural contexts

• Parent communication and counseling basics

Phase 2: Hands-On Practice (2 days)

• Live demonstration screening sessions

• Supervised practice assessments with children

• Data entry and platform navigation training

• Interpreting screening results and generating reports

• Troubleshooting common challenges

Phase 3: Implementation Support (Ongoing)

• WhatsApp support group for real-time query resolution

• Monthly virtual refresher sessions

• Quarterly on-site support visits

• Peer learning community facilitation

• Success story documentation

Localized Adaptations:

• Language: Training materials in Odia, platform supports Odia interface

• Cultural Context: Screening items adapted for tribal developmental patterns and local practices

• Resource Constraints: Offline-first platform design for low-connectivity areas

• Community Engagement: Integration with local health workers (ASHAs, ANMs) and village leadership

Unique Challenges Addressed:

• High migration rates affecting continuous tracking

• Multilingual contexts (Odia, tribal languages like Juang, Ho)

• Limited prior exposure to digital tools among educators

• Nutrition and health factors affecting developmental baselines

• Distance to nearest clinical facilities for referrals

Outcomes & Impact:

Immediate Results:

• 90+ educators certified in neurodevelopmental screening

• 100% platform adoption across trained institutions

• 1,500+ children screened within first 3 months

• 12% identification rate of children needing intervention

• 3 mobile tele-consultation camps organized for diagnosed children

Systemic Changes:

• CRCs now conduct monthly screening quality audits

• Block-level developmental tracking dashboard established

• Referral pathway created with District Early Intervention Center (DEIC)

• Integration with Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) for nutrition interventions

• Model recognized by State Mission Authority, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

"Previously, we only knew a child was struggling when they reached Class 2-3 and couldn't read. Now we identify at anganwadi level itself and can start support early." - Cluster Resource Coordinator, Banspal

Sustainability Plan:

• Master trainer model: 12 advanced trainers identified for peer training

• Annual refresher training calendar established

• District education budget allocation for ongoing screening

• Integration into pre-service teacher training at Block Resource Centers