PLDP is designed to cause change in the headmaster and her school. The workshop is centered around the headmaster. Theme of the workshop, its pace, the facilitator is all drawn based on needs of each headmaster in a group. It makes the headmaster feel wanted and special. This is a unique experience because in most other programs, portions of training are relevant to different headmasters in a group.

During the workshop, the timings and protocols are decided democratically by the participants and facilitators. There is no admonition for those who come late or leave early or don’t come on a particular day or speak opening about any issue that comes to their mind. Kaivalya sends no report on such issues the govt. This builds trust between KEF and the headmasters, and gives headmasters the experience of feeling valued and respected. Again an experience very different from what they have been through in the govt. school training programs.

Throughout the duration of the workshop KEF team and Gandhi Fellows provide positive support to all headmasters. Care, sensitivity, respect and non-judgementality form the basis of all argument and discussion. This is not to say that hard messages are not delivered through the workshop. Once the headmaster has repeated, positive experiences, there is a higher likelihood of her taking the experiences to her school and causing a positive experience for the children.

Each KSW and MWS is designed for (sub) groups of headmasters based on their experience and need. For instance a group of headmasters across Jhunjhunu have crossed the first hurdle and entered the classroom to teach small children. For these headmasters the need now is to make their classroom relevant and meaningful for the children by doing assessment, grouping and using relevant TLM. The Gandhi Fellows, who support these headmasters onsite and pedagogy experts will design and deliver the MWS on this theme. This drives ownership with staff internally and builds credibility with the headmasters. There is also a larger likelihood of headmasters to change their behaviour in school.