ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/11/2001 16 August 2001
Indian teachers bring back lessons from Australia tour
Thirteen Indian teachers have returned from an exchange visit to Australia with practical insights into the Australian education system that they plan to apply in their schools.
At a reception hosted by the Australian High Commission today, the teachers explained how the visit had helped them learn new methods of communication and motivating children. The teachers were drawn from 13 schools in Delhi and Ghaziabad.
The visit, in June, was organised by the Asia Education Foundation (AEF), Melbourne, and funded by the Australia-India Council (AIC) as part of an exchange program facilitated by Australian Education International (AEI).
The exchange program aims at acquainting Indian teachers with the Australian approach to education, life and culture. It also supports developing curricula about India in the participating Australian schools.
The Australian High Commissioner, Mr Rob Laurie, said that the exchange program gave Indian teachers first-hand experience of Australian education.
"I strongly believe that greater interaction between Australian and Indian schools, teachers and students will increase understanding of our respective cultures and further strengthen our important bilateral relationship," he said.
Mrs Bharati Sharma, Principal of Amity International, Saket, said that the visit had "offered insights into the Australian educational system,” some elements of which would be incorporated in her own school.
Mrs Rita Kapur, Principal, Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad, said: "The visit was a meaningful exchange of ideas on the different dimensions of learning, teaching methods, and the curriculum development process.” Mrs Charu Suri, Head of Junior School, The Shri Ram School, Aravali, saw similarities between the education systems in the two countries.
Some teachers said they were impressed with the environment of self-learning in Australian schools while others said they had benefited from the exposure they got in observing methods of motivating children and developing questioning skills in them.
While in Australia, the teachers toured several schools and educational agencies. They met the Australian teachers who had visited them in Delhi in January this year as part of the exchange program, and stayed in their homes, getting a taste of Australian family life, besides spending a few days with them in their classrooms.
For further details, please contact Ms Bernadette McDonald, Counsellor, Education and Training, Australian High Commission, New Delhi, Phone 6888 223, extension 256.