Navsarjan Trust Schools Gujarat

Maulik Nagri July 2012

Agenda

Background

Our Involvement

Navsarjan’s Other Activities *Update*

Student Count *Update*

2012-2013 Proposal

Observations during site visit

– School activity report *Update*

– Pictures

Follow-up Questions *Update*

QED Update

– Pictures

Our Involvement

Site visits in April 2007, January 2009, May 2010 and May 2012

Asha-Boston set up a scholarship program to encourage enrollment of female students

Parents willing to pay for boys’ education, but do not encourage their daughters for education

Marriage for girls at an early age very common

Background

Navsarjan founded in 1989

Goal: provide quality education to Dalit children facing harsh discrimination in government schools

3 active schools near Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Estimated total cost per child INR ~1000 per month in 2010-2011

– Includes lodging and boarding

Navsarjan has increased student count over the years

Link: http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=840

Navsarjan’s Other Activities (1/2)

Human Rights Value Education – Residential schools

– Extra-curricular after-school programs

– Children’s Groups // Children’s Camps

– Teachers’ Training

– Educational Community Video Unit

Vocational School (Dalit Shakti Kendra) – Offers classes: embroidery, Spoken English, woodwork, photography

– DSK also hosts public speaking contests and sports games

Youth Awareness Training Programs – Training Programs

– Youth Forums

Raising awareness and building capacity – Information from manual scavengers

– Information gathering and dissemination

– Organize Rallies and Public Hearings

Navsarjan’s Other Activities (2/2)

Raise awareness of Women’s Rights Awareness Campaign

“Save the Girl Child” Programs

Organize awareness campaign on a wider scale

Legal Aid Cell

Implement Minimum Wage laws Organize agricultural laborers into “trade unions”

Training, Publicity and Awareness Programs

Improving Local Governance Strengthen “Panchayat” members

Raise awareness of political rights

Improve Land Rights Raise awareness of land ownership laws

Do land surveys

Provide Legal support Provide litigation support // Train paralegal

Advocate issues at local, state and national levels and media

Student Count in 2012-2013

*Update*: Student count has dropped to 322 in 2012-2013 from 400 in

2011-2012 – Navsarjan investigating the reason for drop in student count

– Navsarjan already looking into better outreach for enrolling students

Long-term target to enroll 40% girls in student population

2012-2013 Proposal

Navsarjan requested: INR 18,75,000 or ~$34,000

– INR 800 per month TIMES 10 months TIMES 250 students

– Navsarjan stated that fee subsidy should be raised to INR

800 per month

due to higher food costs and inflation

– Historically, Asha has subsidized education of female

students and very needy male students

Our proposal: Annual installment of INR 800,000 or

~$15,000

– INR 800 per month TIMES 10 months TIMES 100 students

– 1st semi-annual installment of INR 400,000 or ~$7,500 now

– 2nd semi-annual installment depending on funding situation

Observations during May 2012 Site Visit

Visited school at Sami and interviewed teachers, students and parents

Navsarjan residential schools do “more with less” – 3 multi-functional: rooms; classroom during day; lodge at night

– Human waste is re-used as fertilizer for gardens

– Consistently raised student count in the past 4 academic years

Schools are well-managed – School management and school staff very motivated

– Sami school generally clean and well-organized

– Students have a daily schedule and are taught essential life skills

– Cook and Caretaker live on premises

Students interviews reveal confidence and enthusiasm in them

Parents interview reveal enthusiasm to send children to school

School Activity Report 2011-2012 – Sami School

Apr: Conducted annual exam // Celebrated Babasaheb Ambedkar’s 120t birthday through a

cultural program // Held Parent Teacher meetings

May: Teacher training includes computer training // Fieldwork for enrolling students //

Distribution of final exam marks

Jun: Teacher training Bhimsevaks // Welcoming students to schools // Student health check

Jul: Ecosan Training // Tree planting program

Aug: Extra classes including watching films on Dalit issues // Celebrating “Independence Day”

and Raksha Bandhan // Parent Teacher Meeting

Sep: “Student become Teachers” Day // Extra classes educating students on Dalit History and

Dalit icons

Oct: Celebrating birthday of “Mahatma Gandhi” including a quiz competition // Sudoku

Competiton // Parent Teacher Meeting // Half-yearly exams

Nov: “Chhotte Bhim” Drama Competition // Distribution of marks for half-yearly exams

Dec: Elocution contest // Celebrating “Human Rights” Day and 56th death anniversary of Dr.

Bhimrao Ambedkar // Individual and Group Sports Contests

Jan: Celebrating “Martyr Day” and “Independence Day” // Essay writing competition // DSK

Drama Competition // Local Police Inspector as Guest Lecturer

Feb: Painting Competition // Visit ATM and local Panchayat // Extra classes involving movies

such as Titanic

Mar: Information session on diseases // School clean-up campaign // “Youth Awareness

Campaign” Seminar // Chhotte Bhim Drama Competition

Site Visit Pictures 2011-2012

Site Visit Pictures 2011-2012

Other Status Updates

Big foreign grant rolling off in September 2012

Building 2nd floor in Sami School

Completing 2nd floor in Rayka School

Plans to add standards 9th and 10th in all 3 schools – Expects to add 180 students in the next 3 years

Expect 30 students per standard per school

Plan to science labs at all 3 schools – Dependent on specific grants

Plan to add vocational classes at Navsarjan’s vocational schools – Collaborate with IIM-Ahmedabad

– Courses: Bee Keeping, Growing Mushrooms, Papier mache, Creating Wooden Toys, Wormi-compost, Bakery products, Creating household furnitures

– Train teachers at 3 residential schools so that they can teach these courses

Plan to open 4th school in the near future

Follow-up questions [1/2]

Education related questions

- How did the students fare in their academics, extra-curriculars etc?

Generally, they fare well in academic and are exposed to various other activities.

- What is the qualification of the teachers in the Navsarjan schools?

B.Ed.

- What kind of teaching material do they use?

Query sent to Navsarjan

- What is the syllabus that is followed in Navsarjan schools (state, central,

alternative).

Gujarat State Board

- How do they incorporate teaching about dalit culture etc using their syllabus.

Through extra classes and extra-curricular activities

- What do the students go on to do once when they get out of Navsarjan schools?

~95% students continue their education at a different school.

- How do we know that the project is resulting in improving the socio-economic

aspects of the lives of students?

After studying Navsarjan schools, students continue their education, a key driver of

upward socio-economic change.

Follow-up Questions [2/2]

Sources of Funding [Source: May 2011 Presentation]

% of students who continue education after Navsarjan [Source:

2009 data]

“Quality in Education” Questionnaire sent to Navsarjan

– Response Awaited

How ready is Navsarjan for the “Right to Education” deadline?

– Response Awaited

Details 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Student Contribution 23% 36% 32%

Project Support 32% 26% 4%

Navsarjan's own funds 45% 38% 64%

Total 100% 100% 100%

QEd Update

Asha awarded Navsarjan grant to expand “Chhotte Bhim” drama competition under the “Quality of Education” [QEd] initiative

– Incidentally, Navsarjan had come with 3 ideas for the QeD Grant Drama Competition (nominated by Asha-Boston)

Science Labs

Educational Toys

Navsarjan holds “Chhotte Bhim” drama competition for both: – 3 residential schools

Finals hled in April 2012

– Bhimshalas (after school programs) Covered 1,200 children from 68 villages

1st round held in September 2011, Semi-finals in February 2012, and Finals in May 2012

Site visit covered Final

Navsarjan used the QEd grant to: – Print more pamphlets;

– Design costumes for the drama competition; and

– Provide medals.

Advantages of “Chhotte Bhim” drama competition: – Promotes reading efficiency and creativity

– Higher engagement and retention in students

– Drama competition becomes a uniting force in the community

“Chhotte Bhim” Drama Competition 2011-2012

“Chhotte Bhim” Drama Competition 2011-2012

THANK YOU