Face-to-face training emerges as most effective. New Delhi

Three training modalities used for upgrading the knowledge and skills of teachers in population education were compared in a study undertaken by S.V. Yadav of the National Population Education Project of the National Council of Educational Research and Training. The 3 training modalities compared included face-to-face training, self-learning individual mode and self-learning paired mode. The study employed pre-test and post-test designs using control groups consisting of 96 secondary school teachers teaching in rural schools in 1 district. The 3 modalities were compared according to their effectiveness in terms of gains in awareness, knowledge and attitude as well as cost effectiveness. The study showed that the face-to-face modality is still the most effective in terms of gains in knowledge and attitude. It is, however, costlier, the report points out. When cost per unit and outcomes were taken together, the study found out that the self-learning, paired mode proved to be the most effective. The self-learning paired mode is also found to be more effective than the individual self-instruction mode because in the paired mode modality, the opportunity to discuss and share learning with a colleague improves their understanding of the issues in an area in which attitude and values are important. The study recommends on this basis that policy makers consider the combination of face-to-face and self-learning paired modalities in designing their teacher-training program on population education.