Building kids’confidence with 'One mic, One child' programme

Instilling confidence in students and eqipping them with the power to communicate effectively are among the main objectives of school education.

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‘One Mic, One child’ programme is an effective tool in achieving this goal. The main objective of this programme is to provide students with a platform where they can express themselves, practice public speaking with confidence, and showcase their ideas, experiences, and creativity.

All that this initiative requires is a microphone and one student — where the student presents his Mann Ki Baat, poem, speech, inspirational story, views on social issues etc. It is an informal but powerful platform that gives equal opportunity to every student. This gives every student a chance to speak, not just the bright or selected ones.

It is an equal opportunity platform for students from all walks of life and backgrounds.

First-hand experience

This programme has been implemented with a fair amount of success at Fort International School, Hanumangarh district. For the past two years this programme is being run regularly in the school (for students from class I to XII) and they have shown marked improvement in public-speaking skills and overall confidence.

This programme has been integrated into the timetable of the school so that every student gets an opportunity to speak on stage at least once a week, sometimes reciting a poem, sometimes sharing a motivational thought, and sometimes an experience from his life.

Our teachers have observed that even shy students have started speaking confidently from this platform.

Students have also developed a sense of leadership, discipline and cooperation.

Every school emphasizes on personality development of students, and ‘One Mic, One Student’ initiative is a simple, effective and practical solution for this. The programme has led to clear improvements in students' academic achievements, too.

Students who used to remain quiet in class earlier, now speak confidently on the stage. Teachers believe that this program has been helpful in the overall development of students. Positive feedback has been received from parents as well.

The programme provides students with not only education but also an opportunity for personality development.

The inclusion of core subjects has made it even more useful. This programme is an inspiring initiative that should be replicated in all schools across the country

Why is it important for students

• Developing self-confidence: Students gain confidence when they speak in public.
• Improvement in speech skills: From spoken language to public speaking, every kind of expression improves.
• Development of leadership qualities: Speaking on stage is the first step towards leadership.
• Promotion of creativity: Students can share their creativity like poems, stories, ideas etc. on this platform.
• The art of listening and understanding: When one student speaks, others listen attentively, which develops discipline and tolerance.

The writer is Principal, Fort International School, Hanumangarh