Schools In Kolkata Research Articles

Evaluation of physical fitness in Indian children by EUROFIT test battery

Introduction: Physical activity is a key component in maintaining and improving health, including physical, mental, and emotional health. Fitness tests are usually assessed in laboratories or on field. Field tests, as compared to laboratory tests, are widely used for their lower costs, and less time of administration. The EUROFIT test battery is a reliable field test for assessing fitness in children. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate physical fitness through flexibility, agility, speed, balance, endurance, and strength tests using the EUROFIT test battery in children involved in sporting activities and those who are not regularly involved. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 40 kids of primary class from a school in Kolkata, attending sports classes and general studies. For the sports category, we included children who were engaged in outdoor sports, whereas nonsports group comprised kids who did not participate in regular outdoor sports activities. Anthropometric measurement and the physical fitness tests were executed in a definite order and a comparative study was done between sports and nonsports groups. Results: Students having sports backgrounds performed significantly (P < 0.05) better than nonsports in five out of nine assessed parameters of the EUROFIT Test Battery. Conclusion: The result of the study showed better results in all tested variables in sports group children than nonsports participants. Our study provides valuable fitness data for children, which has utility for health and fitness screening, profiling, monitoring, and surveillance.

TEACHERS ENGAGEMENT IN ACADEMIC MOTIVATION OF SCHOOL STUDENTS

Teachers in schools can boost students' academic motivation by providing them with support and encouragement. This study attempted to explore the factors teachers use to support students' autonomy, competencies, and interests to boost their motivation for learning. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of qualitative research methodology was used in this research. The study was conducted on 18 school teachers working in government and private schools in Kolkata, India from whom data were collected through semistructured interviews. The results showed that teachers employed four key themes to raise students' motivation for academics in the classroom. Highlighting the significance of learning, inspiring learning environment, promoting unique activities and resolving other issues were the major affairs that were reported. A favourable learning atmosphere, the benefits of extracurricular activities, the necessity of specific classes, the significance of learning for professional and personal growth, and counselling were also highlighted as ways to motivate students.

Green Academia: Integrating Islamic Teachings in Education for a Sustainable Future

Environmental discourses in the twenty-first century actively engage with religious discourses, consciously attempting to bring religious texts as the centre of attention to suggest viable solutions for countering the current ecological crisis. Islam, too, offers an insight to assert that nature is a creation of Allah and, therefore, a constant reminder of His Will and Glory. Drawing references from the Qur’ān and the Ḥadīth, this paper aims first to establish that Islamic value systems are pro-eco-conservative in principle—I draw from Islamic philosophy, namely, the Unity of Being (Tawhīd), Trusteeship (Khalifa) and Accountability (Akhirah), mentioned in Al-Qur’ān to form the theoretical framework for my study. Secondly, a qualitative analysis of the primary data collected using the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach. Primary data was collected from unstructured group interviews and observation of the researcher with a sample size of fifty students from Madrasah Education (Kolkata, India) and fifty students of English medium schools in Kolkata, respectively, to assess the participants' attitudes and practices, and how it aligns with the eco-conservative practices by posing open-ended questions. The study aims to ascertain if education systems with a religious background could contribute to developing eco-conservative practices and awareness. The study suggested that considering religious teachings in environmental education can naturally foster eco-ethical practices. This study comprises a particular region, and since it included a small sample size, generalization of the result is not possible.

How do teachers innovate? Role of efficacy for innovation and school climate perception

AbstractStudies on teachers' innovative work behavior (IWB) have identified the importance of self‐efficacy beliefs and school climate. However, there is a lack of understanding of innovation‐specific self‐efficacy beliefs in earlier research. Further, the relative importance of these variables for teachers' IWB is yet to be examined. Objectives of the present study were to (i) conceptualize and develop an instrument to assess innovative self‐efficacy (ISE) of school teachers, and (ii) examine the dynamics of relationships among ISE, perceived school climate, and IWB of teachers. The research was classified into two studies. In both studies, data were collected randomly from secondary and higher secondary teachers of private, government, and government‐aided schools in Kolkata (INDIA) and adjoining areas. Study 1 dealt with the first objective, that is, the construction of the ISE scale. Factor structure and psychometric properties of the scale were tested on 300 teachers. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two dimensions: teaching reflection and teaching design implementation. In Study 2, ISE scale, IWB Scale, and Revised School Level Environment Questionnaire were administered to 400 teachers. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and goodness of fit estimates was calculated for the ISE scale, indicating an acceptable fit. Further, hierarchical regression analyses noted that school climate factors (collaboration, school resources, decision‐making, and instructional innovation) moderated the relationship between teaching reflection efficacy and IWB. In the current backdrop of different educational reforms, IWB is a thrust that needs to be promoted among school teachers. The present study implies that school administration can encourage teachers' innovativeness by increasing opportunities for innovation in school. Training and intervention programs aimed at enhancing teachers' ISE levels will also increase IWB in them.

Innovations in Teaching: A Case of Using Kinesthetic Learning Activity for Teaching Physics

The paper evaluates the advantage of the role of Kinesthetic Learning Activity (KLA) method in understanding basic concepts of physics over traditional methods. This study was conducted during the year 2022-23. The topic “Photo-electric effect” of grade 12 was selected for KLA from feedback of 20 teachers and literature study. A sample of 50 students from two schools in Kolkata was taught the topic traditionally. Later the Kinesthetic learning activities were conducted in the classroom and school field. The data of pre KLA and post KLA were collected and analyzed using various statistical tools using SPSS software. The calculated value of t in paired t-test was 21.289 with p values 0.000 which clearly showed differences in pre and post-KLA and were highly significant. Ninety percent of the respondent students showed high satisfaction with KLA. Major improvement in post-KLA score was observed which increased from an average value of 8.00 to an average value of 15.12. Thus it is concluded that KLA was very effective in teaching the target topic. The learning from this study may be applicable across the disciplines including the field of agriculture extension to make an effective understanding of abstract topics in informal settings also.

Mathematics in Indian Music: Examining Children's Learning Process

There are many mathematical concepts found in music. Music is integrated into Indian culture. It is a common practice among children in India to engage in music lessons from a young age. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Indian music on the cognitive development of children to understand or reinforce mathematics. Data was collected from three schools in Kolkata, India, through interviews, observations, and survey questionnaires. Six different music classes from three music schools were observed at different times. Observations were documented through pictures, video recordings, running records, and anecdotal records. To supplement these documentations, a field journal was kept at all times. The study was qualitative in nature, and all data were analyzed thematically. The findings suggested the importance of Indian music in children’s cognitive development and how Indian music helped in learning mathematics. Both teachers and parents felt that music builds concentration among children and also helps children with disabilities.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight/Obesity in Adolescent School Girls: A Cross-Sectional Study in Kolkata, India

Overweight and obesity in adolescent girls are considered a leading global public health issues in recent times. There is a need to evaluate the potential socioeconomic and behavioural factors behind adolescents’ overweight and obesity in different environmental settings. The present study aims to understand the prevalence of overweight and obesity among urban adolescent school girls and to determine the association between selected socioeconomic and behavioural factors and overweight/obesity. This is a cross-sectional study using a multistage stratified cluster sampling with a sample size of 1041 adolescent girls aged 10 to 18 years from schools of Kolkata, India. Overall prevalence of overweight and obesity were 18.9% and 23.7%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher among those adolescent girls whose parents had completed higher education (49.5%) and had higher monthly per capita household expenditure (48.4%). Stepwise binary logistic regression analysis confirmed that the probability of being overweight/ obese tended to be in adolescents who slept less than 7 hours per day (p<0.001). Overweight /obesity was also higher among those children whose fathers were fatty (p=0.002), taken medicines three months before the survey (p=0.008), and watched television and mobile phones for more than 1 hour a day (p=0.039). Rapid change in modern lifestyles is seemingly decreasing sleep duration in adolescents with subsequent negative impact on their health.

Influence of Social Responsibility Projects on the Holistic Development of Secondary School Students

This Study tries to investigate the impact of demographic profile, moral science and social service, more specifically the social responsibility in developing secondary school students’ perception about social responsibility and how they contribute towards their holistic development. This is exploratory research based on a modest sample of 120 respondents drawn from various secondary schools in Kolkata, India through judgement sampling method.

A Study on the Impact of Parent-child Relationship and Socioeconomic Status on Problem Behaviour among Children

Aim: The aim of study was to examine whether there exists significant difference in problem behavior among children with the variation in socioeconomic status in the family and parent child relationship (mother-child and father-child relationship).
 Study Design: A cross-sectional analytical study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Data collected in group (maximum with 20 participants by maintaining necessary Covid protocols) at schools in Kolkata with special appointment and after taking consent from the school authority and the participants in November, 2021.
 Methodology: 100 Bengali parents as participants from Kolkata with 30 to 45 years of age and having children within 10 years of age were included following necessary inclusion criteria. The tools used for the study were an information schedule, modified Kuppuswamy SES scale, the Child Behaviour Checklist and parent child relationship scale.
 Results: Results revealed that the problem behavior in children differed significantly due to the variation in socioeconomic status of the family and parent child relationship (in terms of mother child and father child relationship). Thus, the impact of socioeconomic status and parent child relationship on problem behavior among children is significant (P< .001).
 Conclusion: The present study concludes that there are significant impact of socioeconomic status and parent child relationship on problem behavior of the children. The present study has implications in emphasizing that socioeconomic status of the family and nature of parent child relationship play a pivotal role in generating internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors sometimes separately and sometimes together which gradually may turn into developing chronic psychological disturbances. Therefore, immediate measures should be taken to develop concern and to implement psychological intervention.

Re-examining the relation of Core self-evaluations and Academic performance: Investigating the mediating role of Cognitive test-anxiety

The present study attempted to investigate the mediating effect of Cognitive Test-anxiety (CTA) between the relation of Core Self-evaluation (CSE) and academic performance. Sample consisted of 599 class 12 students from different schools in Kolkata belonging to both English and Bengali medium schools and from both science and humanities streams. Subjects were selected according to the inclusion criteria to maintain homogeneity of sample. To carry out mediation analysis PROCESS macro for SPSS by Preacher & Hayes, 2004 was used. Data was analyzed using SPSS 22 version. Results showed CSE positively predicted academic performance which was significantly mediated by CTA. It can be said that CSE being a dispositional variable its relation with academic performance can be strengthened or weakened by underlying cognitive factors, one important among them being CTA which predisposes an individual to experience anxiety in evaluative situations thereby lowering performance.

“Do you think adolescents’ food intake is satisfactory?” – Views of Indian parents and teachers

Adolescents develop food habits that affect both their present and future health. Underpinned by the stakeholder theory, this study was designed to explore the perspective of parents and nutrition educators regarding urban Indian adolescents’ food habits. Thirty-two educators and 280 parents from five independent, English-speaking, secondary schools in Kolkata, India completed a paper-based instrument consisting of both closed and open-ended measures. Qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis informed by the Template Analysis Technique. Descriptive and cross-tabulation analyses were employed to assess quantitative data. Three quarters (75%) of the respondents were dissatisfied with the ubiquitous consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and sugar-sweetened beverages as well as the low intakes of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables among urban Indian adolescents. Six reasons were advanced for such unhealthy consumption including i) Proliferation of fast food retail outlets; ii) Hyper-palatability of fast food; iii) Marketing of fast food on electronic and social media; iv) Diminished household cooking practices; v) Lack of food knowledge; vi) Tendency to seek peer group acceptance. Both parents and educators suggested some healthy eating strategies aimed at improving the food and nutrition situation in Indian secondary schools to foster healthy eating among pupils. These included: i) Restrictions on the sale of unhealthy foods in school canteens; ii) Increased availability of attractive and palatable nutritious foods; iii) Discussion of the advantages of consuming healthy foods and inclusion of food preparation techniques in the school curriculum; iv) Home Economics coursework to be made mandatory for students. The findings suggest that Indian parents and teachers are likely to support changes to the food and nutrition curricula and to school food provision to foster healthy eating among adolescents.

Perceptions of eating and food preparation behaviours for urban private school students in India

ABSTRACT Introduction: Adolescents’ perceptions of eating and culinary behaviours have important implications for their health and nutritional profiles. The purpose of the current investigation is to understand Indian adolescents’ perceptions of healthy eating and meal preparation. Methods: Year nine students (n = 1026; 35% males) aged 14–16 years from nine English-speaking private secondary schools in Kolkata, India completed a paper-based, self-reported questionnaire which included questions about facilitators and barriers to healthy eating and meal preparation. Cross-tabulation analyses were performed to examine gender differences on the healthy eating measures. Results: Overall, the adolescents highlighted a number of key facilitators and barriers to healthy eating and meal preparation. The preference for water over sugar-sweetened beverages was cited as the most popular facilitator of healthy eating by adolescents (65.7%). The most commonly perceived barrier to healthy eating was the need for strong motivation to consume a healthy diet (56.1%). The importance of using fresh produce in food preparation (76.5%) emerged as the most prominent component of meal preparation. Conversely, the use of food lists was perceived as the least important aspect of healthy meal preparation (54.2%). In general, girls showed more positive attitudes towards healthy eating and meal preparation compared to boys. Conclusion: This understanding of Indian adolescents’ perceptions of healthy eating and meal preparation suggests the development of skills-focussed nutrition education programmes to support young people in preparing and consuming healthy meals.

Influence of food pouching habit during television and multimedia device viewing on dental caries: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Television and multimedia device viewing has been implicated as a possible risk factor for dental caries.AIMS: The aim was to find out the correlation of dental caries with increased duration of food chewing habits during screen viewing.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Closed-ended, validated questionnaires were asked from parents of children, followed by an oral examination and calculation of the dmft values of children. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out in various schools of Kolkata, where 3–6-year-old 419 participants were selected by a simple random sampling method. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical software IBM SPSS statistics 20.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the analyses of the data.RESULTS: Children who watch screens during mealtime and snack time, obtained dmft score was 5.91 ± 4.224 compared to those who do not watch screens, the dmft score was 2.47 ± 2.551. The dmft score among the children who watch various screens for <30 min (N = 242), 30–60 min (N = 143), and >60 min (N = 34) were 3.38 ± 3.228, 6.49 ± 4.182, and 9.53 ± 3.768, respectively. The P value was <0.001 in all of the comparisons (statistically highly significant result).CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that prolonged eating time during screen usage is detrimental for oral health and the cause of increased dmft.

A study on the effectiveness of educational intervention regarding first aid management of selected medical emergencies among adolescents at a school in Kolkata

Background: Preventable medical emergencies and accidents accounts for a major share of mortality worldwide. First-aid is the provision of initial, on spot management for an illness or injury, meted out by a trained person, who is not an expert, till professional medical assistance is available. School children have often been projected as a potentially promising agent for radically revolutionizing the health scenario of our society, if properly mentored. The aim of study was to assess the changes in knowledge and attitude of adolescent school children towards first-aid management, after appropriate educational intervention.Methods: It was a school based quasi-experimental study conducted among 201 adolescent children. Baseline knowledge and attitude about first-aid management of selected medical emergencies were assessed using pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. Then, educational intervention was administered in the form of lectures and demonstrations. Post-interventional evaluation was done using the same questionnaire, after two weeks of intervention. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 16.0.Results: Health professionals (29.2%) and teachers (26.1%) were the primary source of knowledge. Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test was carried out to determine effect of intervention on knowledge and attitude scores of the students. There was a statistically significant increase in knowledge (Z=-10.982, p&lt;0.001) with large effect size (r=0.54) and an increase in attitude, though not statistically significant (Z=-1.949, p=0.05) with small effect size (r=0.09).Conclusions: There is a need for a uniform, interactive module including hands on activities and periodic mock drills to be incorporated as a separate entity to encourage participation.

Parents’ and teachers’ critique of nutrition education in Indian secondary schools

PurposeNutrition education plays a significant role in inculcating lifelong healthy dietary behaviours among adolescents. The purpose of this paper is to understand the opinions of parents and teachers regarding nutrition education in private Indian secondary schools.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional, self-administered, paper-based survey comprising both closed- and open-ended questions was completed by 32 teachers and 280 parents who were recruited from five private English-speaking secondary schools in Kolkata, India. Descriptive and cross-tabulation analyses were conducted to compare the responses of teachers and parents. Thematic data analysis informed by template analysis technique was performed to evaluate the qualitative data.FindingsWhile the curriculum was considered interesting and easy to understand, the gendered nature of the curriculum, excessive rote learning and lack of synchrony between the curriculum and school food services were highlighted as shortcomings of the existing curriculum. The need for the dissemination of food skills either through a compulsory food and nutrition curriculum or through extra-mural activities was expressed by most respondents. Both these ideas were indicative of strong support and motivation for modification in the current curriculum.Practical implicationsThese findings emphasise the support for a skills-focussed food and nutrition curriculum to inculcate experiential culinary skills and comprehensive nutrition knowledge in Indian adolescents, thus improving their nutritional and health profiles.Originality/valueThis is the first cross-sectional survey to investigate the views of parents and teachers about the status of food and nutrition education in private Indian secondary schools.

Location of School: Impact on Secondary Students’ Performance in Mathematics

In the present day, the examination results of different school boards of India in general and West Bengal in particular are not much satisfactory in respect of performance in mathematics. It has been an observed fact that educational facilities provided in a school has to play a vital role in the performance of its students. The present study attempts to examine whether the performance of students in mathematics depends on the location of school where they study. Ex post facto research design has been employed in carrying out the study. The scores in mathematics of 1104 Madhyamik examinees from six secondary schools of Kolkata and outskirts served as the source of data and the sampling technique used was purposive. Results indicate that there exist significant differences between mathematics scores in Madhyamik Examination of students from Kolkata and outskirt schools. Students from Kolkata schools score better in mathematics than the students from the schools that are situated in the outskirts. The study, therefore, recommends that schools located in the outskirts should be provided with better infrastructure to help in better performance of their students in mathematics.

Kālighāt and Ritual Purity in Kolkata: A Historical Approach to Generations in India

Mother Teresa of Kolkata remains one of the adopted figures of the old Indian capital in that after her arrival to be a teacher in a well-to-do school in Kolkata she took to the slums and the service of the “poorest of the poor” within an independent India. While there are several works published about her life after she opened Nirmal Hriday Ashram, a home for the destitute and the dying in Kolkata, less has been researched on the female Hindu symbolic associations of Kolkata with the feminine, as well as the challenges that Mother Teresa faced when as a Christian and as a woman decided to open Nirma Hriday Ashram. This paper examines the significance of Kālighāt for Kolkata and Hinduism and the issues of (in) purity that were triggered by Mother Teresa’s opening of a place for the dying within a property that previously was part of the Kālighāt. This paper suggests that a socio-historical understanding of Kolkata is central to any understanding of the work of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in later periods and their ongoing cooperation with Hindus and Muslims within Kolkata. Thus, ritual purity is not an isolated understanding within a synchronic moment but a generational challenge to ongoing diachronic changes within the City of Kolkata.

Urban Indian adolescents practise unhealthy dietary behaviours

PurposeThe rising prevalence of obesity among Indian adolescents has underscored the need to develop effective strategies to reduce this epidemic. The purpose of this paper is to assess the patterns of snacking, meal consumption and fast food consumption among adolescents in private schools in Kolkata, India.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional, paper-based, self-administered dietary and lifestyle survey was completed by 1,026 year-nine students aged 14–16 years. Cross-tabulation analyses were performed to compare the frequencies of various dietary behaviours across gender.FindingsThe two most common episodes for snacking among respondents were while watching television (57.9 per cent) and while interacting with peers (54.1 per cent). In contrast, snacking throughout the day (8.7 per cent) and in the middle of the night (7.8 per cent) were minimally practiced by the adolescents. The most regularly consumed meal was lunch (94.6 per cent), whereas the most frequently missed meal was breakfast (14.0 per cent). Fast food was most frequently consumed as snacks (26.8 per cent) but least frequently consumed for lunch (9.2 per cent). Overall, boys exhibited more unhealthy dietary behaviours than girls.Practical implicationsThese findings highlight the need to develop nutrition education programmes for nutritionally vulnerable adolescents which communicate the importance of regular meal consumption, reduced intake of fast food and less snacking on energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods.Originality/valueThis is the first cross-sectional survey to investigate patterns of snacking, meal consumption and fast food consumption amongst urban Indian adolescents.

Parents' and Teachers' Views of Food Environments and Policies in Indian Private Secondary Schools.

School food environments and policies can play a pivotal role in inculcating healthy food habits among young people. This cross-sectional survey explored teachers’ and parents’ views of the role of school food environments and policies in promoting healthy food consumption among Indian adolescents. Thirty-two teachers and 280 parents from five private, English-speaking, secondary schools in Kolkata, India took part in a short questionnaire survey which included closed and open answer questions. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were performed to compare the responses of parents and teachers. Thematic data analysis underpinned by Template Analysis Technique was employed to examine the qualitative responses. The easy availability and accessibility of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, the limited availability of nutritious foods, the absence of written food policies, and inflated prices of nutritious foods were reported as problems in the Indian school food environment. However, the respondents also noted that schools restricted the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages and adopted hygienic food practices. Novel ideas for creating healthy school food environments and effective school canteen policies were also captured during the survey. These findings point to the need to create effective school food policies in Indian secondary schools to help adolescents eat healthily at school. Future research is required to test the feasibility of the implementation of school food policies.

Study of hygiene practices among school going children in a government school in Kolkata

Background: A majority of morbidity and mortality in developing countries is attributed to communicable diseases. 31% of all deaths in Southeast Asia, are caused by infectious disease. Poor health among school children is results from lack of awareness of the health benefits of personal hygiene.Methods: The present cross sectional study was conducted among 440 school children in Government school in Kolkata (WB) over a period of 6 months.Results: We tried to assess the hygiene practices among the school children. Majority of children responded that there were sources of clean water at their houses (94%) and school (84%).Conclusions: The percentage of hygiene practices among school children was found to be satisfactory, however when asked to demonstrate correct hand washing procedure, 86.1% demonstrated the same in an incorrect manner.