The economic opportunities provided by industrial development in Ahmedabad, attracted migrant labour from Tamil Nadu to Sabarmati slum. The employment at the railway station of men in loading and unloading the cargo resulted in steady inflow of migrants over a period of 40 years. With the closure of cargo, these people lost source of livelihood and consequential deterioration of financial condition. Children obstruct the women from taking up work outside of home. If they take up a job, it either compromises the well-being of the children or puts additional responsibilities of household and sibling care. These economic pressures combined with cultural integration issues, keep children away from school or result in early drop-out.
There is a Tamil medium school in the area, the children, mostly first generation learners, eventually lose interest in studies as they find difficulty in coping up in a school that lack teachers and infrastructures, to teach a large sized, multi-grade class in a joyful manner. Added to this is the wider issue of integration, the Tamil migrants live a closed life with limited interaction with the locals resulting in poor knowledge of local languages. Language becomes a huge barrier for children as the medium of instruction in most of the local schools are Gujarati and Hindi- which they are unable to follow. The children also have difficulty forming peer group outside their own linguistic groups reinforcing alienation. These factors, coupled with the distance of the school (app 6 km.) make the school unattractive to the children and the parents.
Back to School is based in the premise that education is a fundamental right of the child. A three year initiative to create and enhance access to quality health and education to children of Tamil migrants in Sabarmati slums of Ahmedabad. In order to protect and secure this right it is important for the children themselves to understand and articulate the same and need the support of the communities and the institutions that can create enabling conditions. The project facilitates the integration of children with their support groups, through a process of community and institutional empowerment. The project works in close collaboration with Tamil Sangam, the local institution and the school. Back to School recognizes the committed parents of first generation learners towards ensuring a better life for their children and to build on this the project works towards engaging them in the PTA in a meaningful way. In doing this, Back to School converts constraints into opportunities.
Other broader strategic activities carried out under Back to School are to improve the quality of education in the existing schools as a means to increase enrollment and retention Putting all children in the aegis of education in schools, in Bridge camps (help children acquire grade appropriate competencies and mainstreaming them in formal schools) and in vocational training (help children develop skills and capacities). The schools provide a protection to the children from getting into labour. Optimize Schools as agents to promote integration and a culture of pluralism. The program will maintain a balance between the integration of the Tamil children and the preservation and development of their specific cultural identity. The schools will affirm an atmosphere of intercultural acknowledgement and promote increased interaction/dialogue in the school environment. A series of school based extra curriculum activities strategically involving local and migrant children will foster spirit of cooperation and understanding. The schools involved in providing special language classes for the Tamil children through joyful methods (for examples, the popular appeal of Hindi and Gujarati cinema can be used- borrowing ideas from the World Bank supported innovative program to run a literacy drive using sub titles for songs from the popular program Chitrahaar). Capacitate children to articulate and secure their rights through Bal Sansads- a unique platform that address child rights, local issues, express themselves and at the same time learn about themselves, their duties and their surrounding thus, give them a sense of self esteem and worth. Various training programs to equip the teachers with skills and techniques to handle first generation learners, in a multi-grade / level environment. Form/ strengthen Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) to enhance the involvement of the families in the education of the children. This will also build interface between two important stakeholders in education. Enhance work participation of women so that the children are not forced to work. The program will enhance adult work participation rates by creating livelihood avenues for the women by undertaking Income Generation Program (IGP) training for the parents especially mothers.
There is a huge impact of this program on children in the urban slums of Ahmedabad. With this project various issues like child labour, number of school dropouts, low attendence are curbed, children have gained confidence and are aware of the importance of education. This resulted in increased enrolment rate in the school since children parliament’s members played key role in the enrollment drive. 650 children started attending school regularly within 30 months time. Quality of education improved. Education continued from primary to high school. Due to various training program children have gained confidence, developed leadership and personality skills and showed an increased interest for education. The clever students help the poor students. Children have stopped child labor, and enjoy school days. Three different groups of Children’s Parliament in target area are formed. They by themselves perform street play, cultural program, health campaign and initiative to take smaller children to schools. 15 members of SHGs took leadership to resolved local issues like Drinking water, Gutter line and ration card. People have realized the important of education and health care in the community. 2 Kishori Mandals (below 16 years) have been formed in the intervention area.
Courtsey: KSSSS, Gujrat
No comments:
Post a Comment