Private Schools shut door on Underpriviledged children

In a country where positive changes happen far and between decades of oppression, the fate of RTE act is no surprise.
In the backdrop of dissapproval of "rich parents" in letting their kids rub shoulders with the underpriviledged class in their own classrooms, private schools have refused to take in these poor kids in their schools in this session.
The excuse - "Our admission process is over".

My view -

Private schools in mumbai thrive on the bulging (read overflowing) purses of the upper-class and the rising middle-class of our society. Hefty donations sometimes even drown the hopes of sufficiently able parents of sending their kids to these "Education sharks".
In midst of all melee arrives the RTE act with a halo of righteousness. "Let there be light", it said. "Let every kid get education that he righfully deserves".
But did it actually say it or were my ears ringing?
I guess the latter is truer than the word itself. Neither Goverment officials (eg, TMC) not the common man has any clue of when will the magic wand of RTE spark the light via its implementation.

For centuries our land has been plagued with the divide over caste and class, creed and color. Basic amenities like water, food and shelter have been tossed aside to be marked and divided as per people's station in society. Schools and Gurukuls being the tool of acquiring the worldly knowledge, remained a priviledge of kings and landlords. Thus, education remained a pet of those with heavy purses.

We welcomed the new millenium with its Y2Ks and higher sensex and dowjones, but quality education in India was and still remains leashed by the rich.
One can argue that there are municipal schools for these poor children but that is not what I am talking about here.
For me, education, if there is a burning desire to get one, does not even wait for a classroom but I am contesting the attitude of these manicured classes of society.
What can be reasons behind private schools not taking in these children in? Let us see -
1. Late intimation to schools about RTE act - A blatant lie! They were duly informed a month prior to the start of their admission process
2. Donation loss - True. Government will bear the cost for these poor children. That will not include the donations.
3. Parents may have trouble accepting the fact that their kids have to share their school space with these poor children - True and Monstrous!!!
4. Government lacklustre attitude towards implementation of RTE - True and disappointing.

All of the above reasons can be helped. But the one that affects me the most is the parents' attitude. Though it is just a hearsay, but I am sure there is truth in it. My confidence comes from the knowldege of our country's past that reeks of castism and the dvide over land and wealth.
It is fool hardy to believe that the attitude of these people can be changed overnight (read decade)!
But we must start, and soon enough.

- Sharmishtha

RTE – through the lenses of Aam Amdmi

We all heard our Prime Minister announcing ‘Right to free and compulsory education act’ and making it operational from 1^st April 2010. To many, this moment was more precious and historic than the moment of ‘Tryst with Destiny’. It was historic day because first time in the history of independent India, union government has laid down such a power full act to ensure the right education for those 17 million children who are out of school.

A cynic would say, so what’s so new in this act. There were many such acts made in yesteryears as well, but look here we are, still struggling and making acts.

But the groups and the individuals who have been working and waiting this Act have a different view. They see how vital this act is for the future of our nation.

Any investment in the human energy goes long way. There are nations who believed that if they put their money in infrastructure, making sky touching buildings in sea, expanding roads and making web of metros, they will be building the future of their nation. They realized very soon that how wrong they were. The skyscrapers and glittering cities can not broaden the horizon of human being until we invest in the people themselves.

On the other hand, a nation which is still developing from last two decades but paid little more attention to the education system and human energy amid its corrupted and irregular system, survived the great depression-2. We have lot to learn from these recent year experiences.

The wise people of this world say that the Lewis turning point of such a nation will be longer than the one, which builds roads and buildings like assembly line. But this doesn’t ignore the importance of building infrastructure at all, may be the priority, yes.

There are challenges and there are drawbacks but as they say law is also like a human, growing and evolving. The important point is viewing and pointing out these loopholes to the NAC and get these amended as smoothly as possible.

Now a day once someone starts talking about this act, there will be numerous others who will start pointing out and complaining the corruption and irregularities. But they completely miss the point that if there is a draw backs why not to use a right platform to pass this to authorities than beating the drums in close circle.

A lot has been written in the print and electronic media about Teacher – student ratio, lack of trained teachers, proper utilization of teachers, building school infrastructure. But the vital point is, this should not be like just another act, there are expectations of the people and parents (especially underprivileged class) from this and government should put more emphasis on this. And the first step could be a smooth co-ordination between state and Central government on the implementation of this act.

The monetary fact, showing that the central government is spending just .76% of GDP on the education is, acerbic. However, at the same time we all know that efficient and honest use of even this share of GDP is a challenge at a time when the rations of Mid Day meal is making its way to teachers and officers home.

...

Those faces...

My sole reason to sit among these children is to learn what goes on in their mind. What causes them to grow up so fast and look at this world through those oceanic abyss eyes?

Last Saturday on Anti Child Labour day, I was once again among them. Almost all those faces were new for me, but within 2 hours they become so close that I can close my eyes and those stark faces will be right in front my eyes.

I first looked towards him when whole bunch of children started shouting his name. They all wanted him to come in front and dance. They all, except him, claimed that he was a very good dancer. I asked him to come up front and perform with other children, but he politely pulled himself back, whispering that he is not a good dancer.

The other face sat right beside me. When the group decided that we will start the event with introduction by all the kids one by one. All of them came in front one after another and told us their name. We shouted their name, when they were returning to their places. We saw a sense of belonging floating on their faces.

During this whole time, he was pulling my hand and trying to pull my attention. His face was full of heat rash pimples. He didn’t want to wait for his chance and wanted to stand and shout his name.

The girl right beside me on the other side was one of the liveliest faces I have seen. I was not bewildered when she came in front after Introduction and sang 3 nursery rhymes one after other. I also observed that far from one end of the field, her mother calling her to fetch water bucket.

A day with them, singing, drawing and building a ‘Shiksha ki train’, was indeed a very different and inspirational for all of them.

At the end of these activities, while we were distributing the drawing among the kids, He came towards me. I didn’t pay attention to him until he pulled my hand. He was the 8 year kid with heat rashs on his face. I bowed down to listen to him as there were kids shouting and still enjoying ‘Shiksha ki train’ all around us. It was difficult to hear his whisper, one I understood him clearly he was asking “when you will come for taking me to school.” I was wrong, it was not a whisper it was thundering and determined voice.

After wrapping up the activities, when we all were coming out through the narrow lanes of this community, many of these children accompanied us till the end of the community. He came running parallel to me and said, “You know, I will dance when you come here next time. I am good dancer” He shook hand with me and taught me a brand new way to shake hand.

At the end I came back with lots of those faces in front my eyes and ample unanswered question.

Be nice to the kids!!!

The other day, i was in the local train First class compartment. It was approx 10:30 in the morning.

At Kalwa station, a couple of kids, dressed in rags and covered in dust (most probably from the slums in Kalwa), got into the compartment. A lady in the compartment suddenly got up and starting using abusive words and very rudely asked the kids to get off at the next station!!!

I am sure that if these kids were in school uniforms or even in good clothes and well dressed, the lady would not have used rough words and actions with them. I am not advocating that children should be allowed in the first class compartments - people have their own prejudices about that and i feel it is okay as well.

My only point is that these kids do not behave properly with us because we people do not treat them right.

Why can't we be nice and gentle to these kids? Why can't we treat them like they deserve to be treated as children?

It is only when we change our attitude towards them that they shall change their attitude towards us and the others they talk to!!!

I just request the lady (and many others like her) to please tell these children nicely and softly that they should get down at the next station and get into the next compartment.

Well that is not very difficult, is it???

Enrollment and Retention year long campaign kick off June 12, 2010

CRY Campaign Kick Off 2010

Meeting with TMC Block Officers, Thane

Date: June 7, 2010 Time: 2:00 PM to 4:15 PM Volunteers: Krishna, Ravindra, Sharmishtha, Havovi and Ashutosh TMC Representatives: All Block Officers under TMC Education Department (Primary) Agenda: Knowledge and ideas exchange, Understanding the schemes and policies related to enrollment, retention.

We shared the kind of work we do, our beliefs and motives and our vision. We shared observations and shortfalls we encountered during our community visits.

The topics discussed were:

• Enrollment process
• Documents needed for enrollment
• Migrant labors
• Enrollment drive
• Our participation in enrollment
• Schemes under which special allowances are given to minorities and girl children
• Mid-Day meal schemes
• School drop outs
• Government’s efforts for retention
• Bridge schools or programs for the school dropouts
• Teachers’ role in enrollment and retention
• Parents Teachers meetings
• Our participation in retention

1.     Enrollment Drive and Process:
TMC will start the enrollment drive from 14^th June. The drive will last till first week of July. But any child can be enrolled any time in the educational year. Teachers, Block Officers and staff members go into the settlements encouraging parents and children to get enrolled. They conduct detailed surveys in every area, to understand who all the children eligible for enrollment. Using information obtained from past surveys, they also seek for children who would have recently became eligible. Once the child is enrolled, they provide the textbooks & notebooks, uniforms, shoes etc.

2.     Documents needed for enrollment:
As per the rule, some proof of age is required to be enrolled in the school. When asked about the cases where Birth Certificate or any other age proof is not available, the response was, “we still enroll them first, and later we provide the information about obtaining the necessary documents to the parents and also help them with the same”

3.     Our Participation in Enrollment:
This is a major achievement and responsibility for us. TMC has noted in their circular to all the TMC schools that, “Any child brought/referenced by CRY volunteers has to be enrolled in the school without any hassles/troubles.”
They have also granted us the permission to accompany any Block Officer and/or teachers/staff for enrollment during the drive with the prior communication.

4.     Migrant Labor’s kids:
TMC understands that these kids are one of the major percentage in overall school dropouts due to their livelihood. In the cases of these kinds of children, any TMC school should allow the child to get enrolled even though the child may not complete the course. Volunteers were requested to counsel the parents to at least take a Leaving Certificate while leaving the city, so that whatever education they have completed will not be in vain.

5.     Schemes:
There are plenty of schemes under which minority students are entitled to avail the daily allowance of Rs. 2/- for every attended school day. There are also some scholarships for students who have regular attendance. A boy child is eligible to receive Rs. 1500/- and Rs. 1000/- for a girl per annum. There are few other schemes for backward classes and financially deprived families. The detailed information about these schemes will be requested to the TMC by us.

6.     Bridge school Programs:
Children who are out of the school for any reason, can be enrolled in the Bridge School Program (earlier this was named as Mahatma Fule Education Scheme). Under this scheme, students will be taught 4 educational years in 2 calendar years. This is an effort to empower and enable them to comply with other kids in mainstream.

7.     Teachers’ role:
Teachers and other staff play a very vital role in enrollment and retention. They do regular follow-ups with the communities to ensure the children and parents are aware about the importance of the education.

8.     Our participation in retention:
TMC will invite and involve us for all the efforts and programs run for enrollment as well as retention. This will include the enrollment drives, public awareness campaigns etc.

Another big leap for the group:

We will be invited for a meeting where TMC is planning to publish the implementation of Right to Education Act to public. High ranked officials like Mayor, Dy. Mayor, Education Officer, All Corporators, Public Relations officers etc. will be invited for this meeting. We may get a chance to represent our stand and our work. The meeting will be held on 16^th June 2010. We will get the official invitation very soon.

A quick review of the Right to Education Bill

Do read this to get an encapsulated idea of some things we should be aware of wrt the Right to Education Bill

SSA-TMC response on enrollment Drive