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| Overview |
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Education is a cause for concern in the
RGMVP’s Programme area. State-wide,
according to the 2001 census, the literacy
rate is 57.36 percent while the female
literacy rate is 42.2 percent. These figures
are far lower for rural areas in which RGMVP
works. The Community-driven Education
initiative works to change the community’s
perceptions and attitudes towards education,
especially girls’ education, and primary
education for all through networking,
community motivation and advocacy. The aims
of the initiative are to sustain literacy
skills; foster quality in education;
encourage education of girls, Dalits and
minorities; and promote low cost good
quality children's education (especially
English).
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SHG and VO meetings work as nodal points to
initiate advocacy and motivation on the issue of
education. Awareness creation leads to women
themselves discussing the importance of
education, and actively pursuing re-enrolment of
drop-outs and visiting teachers at schools to
resolve any issues. VO and BO members support
enrolment and follow-up of education in the
area.
Community volunteers in the village are given
training in using joyful learning techniques and
other methodologies to improve basic learning
levels. This initiative has been undertaken for
the benefit of children who go to government-run
schools but have limited reading and writing
skills.
Enhanced income generation through the SHG model
has also resulted in more families being able to
afford education for their children. Many SHG
women borrow funds from the SHG to invest in
better education – privately run English medium
schools – for their children.
Also driving Community-driven Education are
several initiatives by the VOs. Increasingly
disenchanted with the quality of education being
provided by government-run schools, these
institutions are taking matters into their own
hands and supplementing the children’s education
with their own efforts. Community learning
centres are being set up by the women
themselves, which are managed and run by the VO
as a ‘social enterprise’. At present 10 such
centres are being run in Raebareli and Sultanpur
districts.
Saath-Saath is another initiative, supported by
the expertise and experience of Infrastructure
Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL & FS),
Mumbai, under which English, Science,
Mathematics and Life Skills are taught to
children during out-of-school hours, by
facilitators selected from the VOs and trained
under the programme. Saath - Saath is a
systematic programme for school children (class
1 to 6) through Community Learning Places that
transforms children into successful learners,
confident individuals, and responsible citizens
and VO members int0 enabling teachers, nurturing
leaders and effective administers. At present
Saath-Saath covers about 5,000 students in 60
villages. The target is to reach out to 2,00,000
children within a period of two years.
English learning has also been initiated by the community itself to ensure that children acquire English speaking skills, especially if they are to take advantage of a wider range of opportunities for a better future. This programme was initially undertaken in association with RGCT’s Rajiv Gandhi Saksharta Pariyojana through a partnership with the Education and Technology Services wing of IL&FS.. However, today, the English Relay Programme is driven by the SHGs and VOs. |
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