‘Form buddy groups to fight drug abuse’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 15

The Education Department has asked the district education authorities and school heads to implement ‘buddy group’ system in government schools.

The buddy group is meant to instill a feeling of better coordination and promote peer learning among students. One of the specific roles that these buddy groups play is that students shall be informed about drug abuse on a daily basis in the morning assembly.

A senior buddy will be given the responsibility to inform other buddy groups on the issue of drug menace. The buddy group would devote 30-40 minutes every week as a crusade against drugs.

The aim of the project is to improve the performance of the students and for better implementation of Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab plan. As per the plan, the class shall be divided into groups called buddy. The buddy group shall be getting involved in a number of activities. They shall be helping each other in studies, co-circular activities. These students shall be re-grouped. The school has to make sure that no students are re-grouped in same group.

The buddy groups shall be holding debate, skills, among each other. Pankaj Kumar Sharma, a science teacher at Government Middle School, Bhoewali, said, “It is a noble initiative for both teachers, students as there will be great level of interaction. The students shall be empowered as they will get a chance to help each other. ”

“Moreover, it will identify brilliant students, which is the need of the hour of government schools,” added Sharma.

A buddy group shall be formed from the sixth standard onwards and the group will comprise three to five students depending upon the number of students in a class. Teachers will be the senior buddy whereas the heads of institutes will be the super buddy, who will oversee the activities at their institutes.