To address the digital divide and to ensure that children from the poor background we tried out a new system of informal education in which families and communities get involved in ensuring sustained learning of children. From May 2020 onward Parents and School Management Committees were contacted over the phone and guided in mobilizing volunteers to organize library and activity session with children while keeping Covid safety in mind. About 350 volunteers mobilized and were oriented. They were provided with about 6,000 library books and later provided on-hand support. Thus Lokmitra team ensured that about 8000 underprivileged children (in Jaunpur, Banda, Raebareli & Saharanpur) get stress free, story-based and activity-based learning opportunities at home, in the neighbourhood with the help of local volunteers. In the month of July, the learning assessment of 4000 children was done. It was quite reassuring that more than 60% of children had moved up in ‘Foundational Reading & Numeracy’, as compared to the Jan-March figure. Stories from these work were posted on the Facebook page of Lokmitra as well as it was published by TOI and Oxfam India.

Promod is now to confident of completing school education and dream beyond. Migrating to distant brick Kiln with parents and supporting them in odd work of brick molding for 6 months has been the harsh reality of Pramod. Last October 2018, when he was being convinced to stay in Seasonal Hostel, he was enrolled in Grade 4 in Primary School of his village. But it was just for namesake as he was not able to even write his name. Now his father is very proud that his son can read storybooks. Pramod and his father have renewed their hope that Pramod will not only complete his schooling but study beyond to pursue a career in health and serve in the village.

Even though he was getting convinced to stay in the seasonal hostel, he was hesitant in going to school as he used to get scolded for not being able to read. Seasonal Hostel in Bhujarakh had started for the 3rd year. But Pramod would have been joining for the first time. So he was first encouraged to attend Learning Resource Centre and participate in storytelling, drawing, flipping through pictorial storybooks. He got a chance to play with Hostel children. He liked all this and agreed to stay back in Hostel while his parents went away to a brick kiln in the state of Haryana, about 700 Km away to.

Lokmitra facilitators convince the teacher to give Pramod attention and be patient for progress in his learning. In four-month time, by March 2019 Pramod was able to read storybooks and do basic arithmetic operations.
Banda and many other districts of Uttar Pradesh have many villages from where children are forced to migrate with their children for more than six months to Brick Kiln. Provision of seasonal Hostel, like to one Pramod attended, goes a long way in ensuring completion of proper school education. And this is the right of every child. Now LOKMITRA and AIF are trying to convince the state government of Uttar Pradesh to make provision of such Seasonal Hostel in affected villages. The initiative in Uttar Pradesh under LAMP project of AIF has successfully demonstrated that Gram Panchayat, School Management Committee, and parents can come together to manage Seasonal Hostel and support the government in ensuring the educational right of children like Pramod.

Chapterwise Suggestions

Chapter 1: Early Childhood Care and Education: The Foundation of learning
P1.2. Significant expansion and strengthening of facilities for early childhood education:
One Year of Pre-Primary initiated in all Primary Schools for children of age 5 to 6 years. School teachers can give more attention as this being their full-time responsibility. Further, they are expected to be better educated / professionally trained and teachers. This will give another advantage that teachers will not blame Anganwadi for the poor quality of PrePrimary education. Anganwadi workers can continue to provide Two Year Pre Primary to children of age 3 to 5 years.
Currently, Anganwadi workers are too burdened with several tasks and have limited education qualification. School teachers can give more attention to the early education of children.

Chapter 2: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
P2.11. School preparation module for all Grade 1 students:
It is insufficient. This will not be required if One Year of Pre Primary is initiated in all Primary Schools for children of age 5 to 6 years.
In Uttar Pradesh, Education Department (Elementary Education Board) gives Teachers month-wise division of curriculum (distribution of teachers) that teachers have to follow. This negates the learning need and different learning pace of children.
School textbook for Grade 1 itself needs major revision to address the challenge of learning crisis.
This also reflects on the capacity of SCERT. So a major focus needs to be given to improve the capacity of SCERT and give it leadership overall academic matter (presently getting divided with Basic Shiksha Parishad).

P2.5. & P2.6. The major reason for the learning crisis is faulty teaching practices of teachers in Grade 1 & 2. Without addressing this issue, the problem will continue to persist. Tutors & Volunteers are more likely to follow the traditional practices of their teachers.
So higher emphasis be given to enhancing the capacity of existing teachers. Only then they can take academic leadership to Tutors & Volunteers.

P2.8. Management of the NTP and RIAP programs will take too much time of teachers and it will also give teachers an excuse for not taking direct responsibility.

Chapter 3: Reintegrating dropouts and Ensuring Universal Access to Education
P3.3. Supporting hostel facilities: There should be provision for Seasonal Hostel for children seasonally migrating to worksite along with parents (especially to Brick Kilns as molders).

P3.7 Tracking out-of-school children: Instead of Database of all only dropouts and out-of-school children, it should be for all children. This database needs to be updated annually. There is a major issue of the gap in finding out of school children. So this responsibility be given to Local Bodies (Gram Panchayat, Municipalities) and be implemented in partnership with some other government department or private agencies. Social Worker can update this database and take up other roles as mentioned in NEP.
Under section 9 of the RTE Act, 2009 role of Local Authority (as defined under Section 2 (h)) duties of “Local Authority” includes following.
d) Maintain records of children up to the age of fourteen years residing within its jurisdiction, in such manner as may be prescribed.
e) Ensure and monitor admission, attendance and completion of elementary education by every child residing within its jurisdiction.
So it is suggested that keeping in the provision of RTE Act and spirit of promoting local governance, Local Authority (mostly Gram Panchayat and Urban Bodies) be made responsible for maintaining of records of children up to the age of 18 years with detail of current status of education and other information relating to same (e.g. migration, CWSN, etc).
Most Gram Panchayats already maintain Family Register. Its format needs to be revised to include additional data and updating of data every six months should be made compulsory. All such data be updated online and be available to the public as well.

Chapter 7: Efficient Resourcing and Effective Governance through School Complexes
P7.7.1. School Management Committees as a mechanism for community support and supervision:
Majority of members in SMC should be parents, at least two-third or three-fourth. Half of the parents be a mother.
There is no need to have three teachers as members. Just Head Teacher will do as secretary of SMC.

Chairperson & Vice Chairperson should be elected from among parent members.

Instead of adding an ex-student as a member, (some of the parents will be ex-students) there should be a provision of School Children Forum and SMC listening to opinions of representatives of School Children Forum in its meetings.

P7.7.2. Enabling the School Management Committees to function effectively:
To improve the functioning and effectiveness of the SMCs, it is most important to ensure that SMCs are periodically reconstituted democratically, in a large assembly of Parents, with equal representation from each Grade.
A major challenge wrt to SMC is lack of proper formation of SMC. Teachers haven’t been properly oriented on the overall benefit of SMC and involvement of parent and community. SMC gets formed in an undemocratic manner in a hurriedly called meeting of parents, with little participation of parents. Quite often, SMCs are formed by teachers (without following the norms) in a manner that it remains a rubber stamp. Even Block and District officials are not series about it. Including District Magistrate. It seems no one in the system wants to empower SMCs.
So Local Body should be given the responsibility of forming SMC as per state RTE Rules. Moreover, there should an Education committee in Local Bodies. Chairperson of SMCs should become a member of Local Body Education committees.
Moreover, SMCs should be empowered by having a federation of SMCs at Block and District level. Only then parents in SMCs will get truly empowered to raise lacunas in the functioning of school and gaps in the system, implementation. Otherwise, parents and children get harassed by officials/schools/teachers for raising any issue.
Periodic meeting of BEO & DEO with SMC federation will provide an opportunity to BEOs and DEOs to get feedback from SMCs and SCMCs in their geography.

P7.5.3 School Complex Management Committee:
SCMC should include members from Local Bodies and Urban Development Authorities (Chairperson or member from Municipality & Gram Panchayat). Plan for the physical development of school my feed into Plan of Local Body and Urban Development Authorities.

P7.5.4. Managing school complexes:
While recommending that there should be sufficient staff in School Complex to reduce the load of non-teaching tasks on teachers, there is no specific mention of support staff for Mid-Day Meal & Breakfast. Provision of staff to take care of Mid-Day Meal & Breakfast be specifically mentioned. The same person can support Kitchen Garden, School Health Program, and Cleanliness & Sanitation as well.

P7.6.3. District Education Council — Zilla Shiksha Parishad:
Making the Collector/District Magistrate will chair the DEC is not a good idea. Experience in this regard is not so positive. This is mainly because District Magistrates have to head too many Committees and do many other works who are in high priority. As a result, meetings get delayed, hurriedly called, just for namesake. Moreover quite often District Magistrates get school teachers engaged in non-teaching duty like pre-election voter awareness, supervision of many other development activities, etc.
So the suggestion is that instead of District Magistrates, the responsibility of Chairmanship of District Education Council is given to DIET (District Institute of Education and Training) Principle or Chief Development Officer.
District Magistrates themselves are at fault for engaging teachers for non-teaching tasks.

P7.7.4. Addressing School Management Committee issues and grievances:
A major challenge wrt to SMC is lack of proper formation of SMC. Teachers haven’t been properly oriented on the overall benefit of SMC and involvement of parent and community. SMC gets formed in an undemocratic manner in a hurriedly called meeting of parents, with little participation of parents. Quite often, SMCs are formed by teachers (without following the norms) in a manner that it remains a rubber stamp. Even Block and District officials are not series about it. Including District Magistrate. It seems no one in the system wants to empower SMCs.
SO Local Body should be given the responsibility of forming SMC as per state RTE Rules. Moreover, there should an Education committee in Local Bodies. Chairperson of SMCs should become a member of Local Body Education committees.
Moreover, SMCs should be empowered by having federation SMC at Block and District level. Only then parents in SMCs will get truly empowered to raise lacunas in the functioning of school and gaps in the system, implementation. Otherwise, parents and children get harassed by officials/schools/teachers for raising any issue.
Periodic meeting of BEO & DEO with SMC federation will provide an opportunity to BEOs and DEOs to get feedback from SMCs and SCMCs in their geography.

बेसिक शिक्षा मंच का पिछला राज्य स्तरीय कार्यक्रम 12-13 दिसम्बर को किया गया है जिसमें मांगों के मसौदा को तैयार कर ड्राफ्ट मसौदा को शिक्षामंत्री व अन्य अधिकारियों को दिया गया है। अब आगे उपरोक्त के संदर्भ में बेसिक शिक्षा मंच का राज्य स्तरीय कार्यक्रम दिनांक 19-20 फरवरी 2015 को जिला शिक्षा प्रशिक्षण संस्थान (विद्याभवन), निशातगंज, लखनऊ में आयोजित किया जा रहा है।

सभी बच्चों के शिक्षा हक व बेसिक शिक्षा में बदलाव के लिए जन पहल – बेसिक शिक्षा मंच की सामयिक बुलेटिन, अंक-3, दिसम्बर 2014   

बच्चे जानें शिक्षा का अधिकार

शिक्षा अधिकार के प्रति बच्चों को जागरूक करने के लिए शिक्षक सहायक सामग्री और बच्चों की कार्यपुस्तिका.  This booklet is supplementary reading material and activity book on Right to Education for Children of Uttar Pradesh. It has a story of a child named Karan who finds that now school has become an interesting place to learn and play. Children are briefly introduced to key provisions of the Act. There are ten group activities for children so as to enable them to assess their school and contribute to school improvement. Teachers can use use this booklet for involving children in making school more effective in ensuring RTE.

अभिभावक समिति Parent Association

यह विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति के अभिभावक सदस्यों को संकुल और ब्लाक स्तर पर संगठित करने की किताब है. लोकमित्र अधिकार कानून के लागू होने के पहले से ही इस पर कम करना शुरू किया था और यह अभी भी व्यवस्थित तरीके से आगे बढ़ रहा है. लोकमित्र के इस लम्बे अनुभव के आधार पर अभिभावक समिति की यह पुस्तिका तैयार की गई है. आशा है की इससे अभिभावक समिति को अन्य क्षेत्रों में फ़ैलाने में मदद मिलेगी.

This Booklet is on federating School management Committee as Parent Association at cluster & Block level. Lokmitra had evolved this practice during 2005 and after the enactment of RTE Act, this practice has sustained. Based on this long experience this booklet has been prepared in Hindi so that practice of Parent Association further spreads.

बेसिक शिक्षा मंच का राज्य स्तरीय कार्यक्रम 12-13 दिसम्बर 2014

जिला शिक्षण प्रशिक्षण संस्थान (डायट), लखनऊ

सभी बच्चों के शिक्षा हक को सुनिश्चित कराने और शिक्षा अधिकार कानून को हकीकत बनाने हेतु हम सभी विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति को सक्षम बनाने का बड़ा दायित्व निभा रहे हैं। इससे हीं सामाजिक व आर्थिक रूप से वंचित परिवारों के बच्चों को बेहतर स्कूली शिक्षा मिल सकेगा और वे विकास की मुख्यधारा में जुड़ सकेंगें।

शिक्षा अधिकार कानून लागू हुए पांच वर्ष होने वाले हैं। कानून में कहा गया है कि सरकार को 2015 तक स्कूल के मानक पूरा कर लेना है। लेकिन ऐसा होता नहीं दिख रहा है। शिक्षा हक हरेक बच्चे को मिल पाए, इसके लिए विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका है। सरकार द्वारा विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति की सक्षमता के लिए जो प्रयास हो रहे हैं, उसे प्रभावी बनाने की जरूरत है। फिर 2015 में विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति का पुनः गठन होना है। गठन जनतांत्रिक व पारदर्शी तरीके से हो पाये इसके लिए सरकार व तंत्र के स्तर पर अभी से तैयारी की जरूरत है। विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति की प्रभावी प्रशिक्षण के साथ समितियों की आपस में सीखने की ऐसी व्यवस्था बनाने की जरूरत है जो उन्हें निरंतर आगे बढ़ने में मददगार हो। इसके लिए सरकार क्या करे और सरकार के सहयोग में संस्थाओं द्वारा कैसे मदद की जाए, इन सब के लिए सरकार को राय देने और उसकी पैरवी करने की जरूरत है।

बेसिक शिक्षा मंच का पिछला राज्य स्तरीय कार्यक्रम फरवरी में, लोकसभा चुनाव 2014 के दौरान किया गया था। बेसिक शिक्षा राजनीतिक मुद्दा बने व राजनीतिक दल संवेदित हों, इसके लिए मागों के मसौदे को लेकर उत्तर प्रदेश में अभियान चलाया गया था। अब आगे उपरोक्त के संदर्भ में बेसिक शिक्षा मंच का राज्य स्तरीय कार्यक्रम दिनांक 12-13 दिसम्बर 2014 को जिला शिक्षण प्रशिक्षण संस्थान (विद्याभवन के पीछे), निशातगंज, लखनऊ में आयोजित किया जा रहा है।

रूपरेखा

शिक्षा व्यवस्था की बेहतरी के संदर्भ में बेसिक शिक्षा मंच का सुझाव, दिसम्बर 2014

बेसिक शिक्षा मंच सरकार से अपेक्षा करता है कि स्कूल शिक्षा की बेहतरी के लिए एक व्यापक बदलाव की दीर्घगामी रणनीति बनाया जाए। सिर्फ निगरानी से कुछ भी उम्मीद नहीं की जा सकती है। इस प्रयास में अभिभावकों और शिक्षकों को साझा प्रयास करने और उनके प्रयासों में समुचित सहयोग की व्यवस्था बनाने की जरूरत है।

शिक्षकों के नियुक्ति के लिए सरकार का प्रयास तो हो रहा है परन्तु यह पर्याप्त नहीं है। शिक्षकों के समायोजन की जरूरत है। सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है कि किस प्रकार शिक्षकों को सक्षम और उत्साही किया जाए। जब षिक्षक बच्चों के सीख स्तर को नही बढ़ा पाते है तो निराष होकर बच्चों और अभिभावकों को ही दोषी मानने लगते हैं। षिक्षकगण स्कूल व संकुल स्तर पर आपस में राय-मषविरा कर अपनी क्षमता व मनोबल बढ़ा सकते है। इस प्रकार हरेक स्कूल के सक्रिय होने की सम्भावना बनेगी, जो कि सफल हो पाने के हरेक पहल के लिए सरकार के आदेष का इंतजार न करता हो।

पिछले साल प्रदेश में विद्यालय प्रबंध समितियों का गठन पहले से बेहतर तरीके से हो पाया है। इससे स्कूलों की बेहतरी की काफी संभावना बन सकती थी यदि विद्यालय प्रबंध समितियों के सभी सदस्यों का समय और बेहतर प्रशिक्षण हो गया होता। यदि शिक्षकों को समुचित सलाह व सहयोग देकर विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति की नियमित मासिक बैठक करवाया गया होता। माननीय शिक्षा मंत्री, वरिष्ठ अधिकारी स्वयं विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति के मासिक बैठकों, प्रशिक्षणों में शामिल होकर इसकी महत्ता बढ़ाये होते।

शिक्षा व्यवस्था की बेहतरी के संदर्भ में बेसिक शिक्षा मंच का सुझाव, दिसम्बर 2014

Conception & Work of Basic Shiksha Manch ]]> https://lokmitra.org.in/%e0%a4%ac%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%95-%e0%a4%b6%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%b7%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%9a-%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%9c%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%af-2/feed/ 1 https://lokmitra.org.in/adolescent-education-project-outcome-impact/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adolescent-education-project-outcome-impact Tue, 18 Feb 2014 12:01:58 +0000 http://lokmitra.org.in/?p=791 Adolescent Education Project – Outcome & Impact

• Adolescent Education Project initiated in April 2012 with the support of SDTT. By Dec 2013 Lokmitra has been able to identify 1083 adolescents (Out of 4,085 Adolescent surveyed in 15 Gram Panchayats of Dih and Chhatoh Block of Raebareli District).
• Lokmitra has been able to mobilise most of them through Non Residential Education Support (about 1,050 adolescents enrolled (562 Girls, 195 Muslims).
• About 280 Adolescents (140 Girls, 40 Muslims) got Residential Education Support for 2 to 4 months. These adolescents have enhanced their reading and numeracy ability and have better awareness of social & health issue.
• About 314 adolescents got re-enrolled in schools (Junior & Middle Schools).
• About 60 boys and girls in 6 Gram Panchayats are part of Adolescent Education Forum and growing as development leaders. They have got three days of leadership training. They are taking initiative for health, hygiene & gender equity, education etc. 

Previous work with Out of School Children

• In last one decade, about 3,000 OoSC were mobilised and about half of them joined schools for regular education.
• Engaged Year 2013 saw some good outcome of earlier effort with School Dropout. Ms Neeta Maurya, one of such girl, who got support from Lokmitra in year 2000, joined Lokmitra in 2012 as Teacher. She is in 3rd year of her Graduation.
• During year 2008-2009 about 400 OoS children engaged in rag picking in Lucknow City were enrolled in schools after providing basic literacy.
• After enactment of RTE Act, School Children are being encouraged to identify OoSCs and SMCs are ensuring that children get enrolled.

• Effort of LOKMITRA, Basic Shiksha Manch and Parent Association has contributed to development with RTE Act. Subsequent advocacy for influencing the Model Rule gave a direct result in terms of being provisioned that a Parent would be chairperson of SMC. In State RTE Rule of UP it has been included that SMC will be formed in open meeting, as demanded by BSM.
• Subsequent to consistent effort (latest one in May) Govt Order for SMC formation was made in June. It had such provisions, as demanded by BSM, like formation of SMC in open meeting of parents, sufficient parents in SMCs (11 parents in 15 person body), selection of parents from each class, Chairperson/Vice Chairperson from parents etc.
• In 2013, Govt adopted many suggestions made for proper reconstitution of SMC, like provision of Quorum, admission of children at the close of session, involvement of NGOs, display of name of selected members, etc.
• Lokmitra has been suggesting for enrolment and survey of out of school children before the start of school session in July. Same has been initiated by the Government in March 2013.
• Lokmitra has been advocating for provision of peer learning of teachers at Cluster & School level. New Framework of SSA has the provision of cluster level peer learning.

शिक्षा अधिकार कानून लागू होने के चार वर्ष बीतने वाले हैं परन्तु इसके समुचित क्रियान्वयन के लिए मजबूत राजनैतिक इच्छा शक्ति का अभाव दिख रहा है। आगामी लोकसभा चुनाव के पूर्व राजनैतिक पार्टियों एवं प्रत्याशियों को संवेदित करने का बेहतर अवसर है। इस क्रम में बेसिक शिक्षा मंच पहल कर रहा है। ‘मांगों के मसौदे’ को तैयार कर के कई राजनैतिक पार्टियों को दिया गया है। इस प्रयास को पूरे राज्य में व्यवस्थित रूप से बढ़ाने के लिए एक राज्यस्तरीय कार्यक्रम 17-18 फरवरी 2014 को बेसिक शिक्षा मंच, अभिभावक मंच एवं लोकमित्र के साझा प्रयास से जवाहर लाल नेहरू यूथ हास्टल, लखनऊ में आयोजित किया गया। कार्यक्रम में उत्तर प्रदेश के 35 जिलों से परिषदीय स्कूलों के विद्यालय प्रबंध समिति के सदस्य, अध्यक्ष, प्राथमिक विद्यालयों के अध्यापक, स्वयं सेवी संस्थाओं के प्रतिनिधि मिलाकर लगभग 120 लोगों ने प्रतिभाग किया।

कार्यक्रम के पहले दिन विभिन्न प्रमुख प्रतिभागियों का समूह राजनीतिक पार्टियों के कार्यालयों में जाकर मांगो के मसौदे को दिया उन्हें अगले दिन शिक्षा संवाद के लिये आमंत्रित किया । कार्यक्रम के दूसरे दिन दिनांक 18 फरवरी को शिक्षा संवाद में सभी प्रमुख पार्टियों के प्रदेश प्रभारियों को बुलाया गया और मांगो के मसौदे पर चर्चा हुयी। आम आदमी पार्टी के जिला संयोजक (लखनऊ) श्री अनमोल जी, भारतीय जनता पार्टी के प्रदेश उपाध्यक्ष श्री हऱद्वार दुबे, कांग्रेस पार्टी के प्रदेश महामंत्री श्री ओंमकार सिंह ने समर्थन व्यक्त करते हुये लोकसभा चुनाव के पार्टी के घोषणा पत्र में शामिल करने का आश्वासन दिया। 

कार्यक्रम के अन्त में यह तय किया गया कि प्रदेश के अधिकांश जिलों में अभिभावक मंच के मध्यम से सभी बच्चों के लिये बेहतर शिक्षा की मांग को राजनीतिक पार्टियों और प्रत्याशियों तक पहूंचाया जायेगा।

Appeal to LokSabha Contestants and Parties by Basic Shikcha Manch Feb 2014