Around 24 children from 4 sites enrolled in ZP School at Bavdhan have started using Vidya Valley School Bus. This is an encouraging example and more schools in other areas like Undri, Pisoli, Bhugaon, PCMC, etc. can support school transport to ZP/PMC/PCMC schools.
After exploring all possibilities of transport for children admitted to Swami Vivekanand School in Shivajinagar, it was decided to admit them to PMC School No.14 where Door Step School already runs Study Classes and transport can be arranged. Volunteer group from Cognizant is discussing this with parents to facilitate this.
Most Children admitted to Balewadi School last weekend are attending school by Door Step School Bus. Around 8 children from one site are unable to attend as the labour camp is far away from the bus pick-up point. These children need an escort to bring them from their camp to the bus pick-up point.
Around 10 children from one site in this area have been admitted by parents on their own into a nearby private school. ECC field-staff Swati and Symphony volunteers worked since May to convince these parents.
Volunteers from Geometric-Udaan and Jahnavi have admitted 20 children in Wakad into nearby PCMC school. This was done entirely by Shujauddin and his group, with no direct support from DSS/ECC field-staff. Good example of ECC becoming a citizens' campaign..!
Volunteers from Emerson have nearly completed survey of all the sites in Kothrud and Erandwane areas for presence of children. Two new sites are found and they are planning to assist the parents in admissions this weekend.
Fiserv has stepped forward with transport support with one of their buses for 50 days in Kharadi area. ECC campaign team is working out ways in which this facility can be used by maximum no of children. Most of the larger construction sites in Kharadi have some NGO's working there and many smaller sites have been completed recently.
In Dhayari, many parents have offered to pay for transport. This is a significant step forward as parents have realised the need. One builder has also come forward to support transport of children from his site.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
ECC Admission Update (24-Jun-13)
Admissions are going on in schools across Pune city - Dhayari, Bavdhan, Kharadi, Ambegaon, Magarpatta, Aundh, Baner, Balewadi, etc. More than 150 children enrolled by 24th of June 2013. Admissions in Kondhwa and Mohammedwadi are being done by PPCE (Parents' Participation in Child's Education) team. Close to 200 children enrolled in 15+ schools. Transport is being arranged at all these places, barring one or two sites...
Volunteers from corporate - Fiserv and Emerson are working on revisiting sites and admissions in Kharadi and Kothrud-Erandwane areas respectively. Volunteers from Symphony participated in weekend admission activity in Balewadi area, with good level of involvement. 28 children were enrolled here.
Responding to our request, Balewadi School was kept open on Sunday for admissions.
Many of the PMC schools run in two shifts - morning and afternoon. Girls and boys are enrolled in separate shifts. This complicates transport arrangements for children coming from construction sites. Hence, PMC School Board (Shikshan Mandal) has issued permission letter for admitting boys and girls in one shift, to make transport arrangements easier.
Volunteers from corporate - Fiserv and Emerson are working on revisiting sites and admissions in Kharadi and Kothrud-Erandwane areas respectively. Volunteers from Symphony participated in weekend admission activity in Balewadi area, with good level of involvement. 28 children were enrolled here.
Responding to our request, Balewadi School was kept open on Sunday for admissions.
Many of the PMC schools run in two shifts - morning and afternoon. Girls and boys are enrolled in separate shifts. This complicates transport arrangements for children coming from construction sites. Hence, PMC School Board (Shikshan Mandal) has issued permission letter for admitting boys and girls in one shift, to make transport arrangements easier.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
ECC Admission Update (18-Jun-13)
ECC Volunteer Archana Vyavaharkar reported from Kondhwa, Pune:
I visited the Sidharthnagar school this afternoon. Manjiritai, Reshma and Sunita (ECC field-staff) were there to oversee the admissions. I spoke to them and the school principal Mrs. Bhalerao about the transport. The school wants us to take full responsibility. The person bringing the children last session was not doing a proper job. Some children had complained that he did not come to their sites etc. Also he did not come on time to pick up the children from school.
One person who runs a couple of vehicles for schools contacted us. I've given his card to Manjiritai. He seems to be ok and eager to work for us. We will also have to employ a lady to accompany the children. There is a lady who lives near the school whom Manjiritai has met and who is willing to work as an escort.
I've also requested the principal to give us a copy of the letter she will send for the transport funds. It is still Rs.300/- per child. We can use that to push the concerned people for payment. Also we have told the transporter that he will be paid only when the school receives the money. He has agreed today....but what happens if he changes his mind?
The school got its official number today and the principal even praised Door Step School .....staff as well as children....and it's good to see the rapport between the facilitators and the school staff. They have brand new benches and charts and the school looks really good. Even the toilet is clean and has an approach from within the school compound!
Hope the transport works out for the children here.
- Archana Vyavaharkar (ECC Volunteer)
I visited the Sidharthnagar school this afternoon. Manjiritai, Reshma and Sunita (ECC field-staff) were there to oversee the admissions. I spoke to them and the school principal Mrs. Bhalerao about the transport. The school wants us to take full responsibility. The person bringing the children last session was not doing a proper job. Some children had complained that he did not come to their sites etc. Also he did not come on time to pick up the children from school.
One person who runs a couple of vehicles for schools contacted us. I've given his card to Manjiritai. He seems to be ok and eager to work for us. We will also have to employ a lady to accompany the children. There is a lady who lives near the school whom Manjiritai has met and who is willing to work as an escort.
I've also requested the principal to give us a copy of the letter she will send for the transport funds. It is still Rs.300/- per child. We can use that to push the concerned people for payment. Also we have told the transporter that he will be paid only when the school receives the money. He has agreed today....but what happens if he changes his mind?
The school got its official number today and the principal even praised Door Step School .....staff as well as children....and it's good to see the rapport between the facilitators and the school staff. They have brand new benches and charts and the school looks really good. Even the toilet is clean and has an approach from within the school compound!
Hope the transport works out for the children here.
- Archana Vyavaharkar (ECC Volunteer)
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
ECC Admission Update (17-Jun-13)
- 63 children, most of them in the 6-7 years age group, were enrolled in Pokale Vidyalay, Dhayari. Despite some resistance from couple of site supervisors, ECC field-staff completed the admission process as planned. Children have been admitted to both (morning and afternoon) shifts. Although school was insisting on sending the children separately, it was made clear that we can send them only in one shift due to limited transport arrangements. ECC has arranged transport for these children for next 15 days; however, more funds are required for continuing transport facility further. ECC Volunteer Prasad Baliga has been actively working with parents to convince them to send their children to school...
- PMC School in Bavdhan runs in two (morning and afternoon) shifts. Since arranging transport for children in two shifts was not possible, it was decided to enrol all children in Zilla Parishad school in Bavdhan. As the ZP school timing is 10am to 5pm, ECC approached a private school (Vidya Valley) in this area for transport support. Vidya Valley has agreed to provide their school bus for children living on construction sites in Bavdhan area. The transport provider will be taken for site visits once admissions are completed in this school. Private schools with transport facility in other areas of the city can support in similar manner...
- 4 children enrolled in Dhanori PMC School. 4 children enrolled in Lohegaon PMC School. Process is slow and somewhat hampered by Rains and parents not being available. Parents have requested for Sunday or early morning admissions (school is from 12:00 noon only). Support is expected from school authorities and PMC School Board (Shikshan Mandal).
- PMC School in Bavdhan runs in two (morning and afternoon) shifts. Since arranging transport for children in two shifts was not possible, it was decided to enrol all children in Zilla Parishad school in Bavdhan. As the ZP school timing is 10am to 5pm, ECC approached a private school (Vidya Valley) in this area for transport support. Vidya Valley has agreed to provide their school bus for children living on construction sites in Bavdhan area. The transport provider will be taken for site visits once admissions are completed in this school. Private schools with transport facility in other areas of the city can support in similar manner...
- 4 children enrolled in Dhanori PMC School. 4 children enrolled in Lohegaon PMC School. Process is slow and somewhat hampered by Rains and parents not being available. Parents have requested for Sunday or early morning admissions (school is from 12:00 noon only). Support is expected from school authorities and PMC School Board (Shikshan Mandal).
Monday, June 17, 2013
A Promising Start to Enrollment!
The ECC Campaign took off on a promising note this year. 24 Children from 6 Construction sites in Shivajinagar were Enrolled in PMC School No.66 at University Circle on Saturday, 15th of June, by Cognizant-Outreach Volunteer Group. One child was enrolled by parent at PMC School No.47B behind College of Agri Banking. This is a good beginning!
The sites had been surveyed by Volunteers from "Cognizant-Outreach" in May, and over the last couple of weeks, parents, site supervisors, and school authorities were contacted for discussions and planning the Admissions.
Though it was a very rainy day, many volunteers joined the effort, some of them even ferried children and parents to the school in their own vehicles. It is indeed heartening to see such enthusiasm and dedication from each and every person who were part of the event Thank you all for the great work!
School authorities were very co-operative and had remained in school beyond the official working hours to complete the process.
Parents are concerned about the next step... how to ensure that children can reach the schools daily! We have to work closely with the school and parents over next couple of weeks to support them in making arrangements for transport.
The work has just begun... 45 more schools and 1300 more children to reach...!
The sites had been surveyed by Volunteers from "Cognizant-Outreach" in May, and over the last couple of weeks, parents, site supervisors, and school authorities were contacted for discussions and planning the Admissions.
Though it was a very rainy day, many volunteers joined the effort, some of them even ferried children and parents to the school in their own vehicles. It is indeed heartening to see such enthusiasm and dedication from each and every person who were part of the event Thank you all for the great work!
School authorities were very co-operative and had remained in school beyond the official working hours to complete the process.
Parents are concerned about the next step... how to ensure that children can reach the schools daily! We have to work closely with the school and parents over next couple of weeks to support them in making arrangements for transport.
The work has just begun... 45 more schools and 1300 more children to reach...!
Friday, June 14, 2013
पुणे व पिंपरी-चिंचवड मनपाच्या शाळेत घडला चमत्कार!
पुणे व पिंपरी-चिंचवड मनपाच्या शाळेत घडला चमत्कार!
पहिलीतली मुलं पहिलीतच लागली घडाघडा वाचायला!!
कसा घडला हा चमत्कार?
मनपा शाळांमधील मुलांच्या वाचनक्षमतेबद्दल अनेक प्रश्न उपस्थित केले गेले आहेत. बहुतेक सर्व पाहण्यांमधून हाती आलेला निष्कर्ष म्हणजे - इयत्तेनुसार मुलांची वाचनक्षमता विकसित झालेली नाही, चौथीच्या मुलांनाही मुळाक्षरे वाचण्यात अडचण, वगैरे वगैरे. पण हे चित्र बदलायचं ठरवलं पुणे व पिंपरी-चिंचवड मनपाच्याच शाळांमधील आणि ‘डोअर स्टेप स्कूल’ या सेवाभावी संस्थेमधील शिक्षिकांनी. पहिलीतल्या मुलांचा क्रमबद्ध रीतीने मुळाक्षर-जोडाक्षर-बाराखडीशी परिचय करुन देण्यासाठी व मुलांना वाचनाची गोडी लागावी यासाठी या शिक्षिकांनी गेल्या शैक्षणिक वर्षात अभिनव पद्धतीने परिश्रम घेतले आहेत. आणि या परिश्रमातूनच त्यांनी घडवला चमत्कार - पहिलीतली मुलं पहिलीतच लागली घडाघडा वाचायला!!
पुणे व पिंपरी-चिंचवड मनपाच्या १२० शाळांमधील पहिल्या इयत्तेतील ६,००० विद्यार्थ्यांच्या वाचनक्षमतेत मागील पाच वर्षांच्या सरासरीच्या तुलनेत गेल्या वर्षी ४३ टक्क्यांची वाढ दिसून आली आहे. मागच्या शैक्षणिक वर्षाखेरीस संपूर्ण बाराखडी व जोडाक्षरे वाचता येणार्या मुलांचे प्रमाण १० टक्क्यांवरुन ५३ टक्क्यांवर पोचलेले आढळून आले आहे. पहिल्या इयत्तेतून दुसर्या इयत्तेत जाणार्या मुलांपैकी सर्व मुळाक्षरेही वाचता न येणार्या मुलांचे प्रमाण ३९ टक्क्यांवरुन १२ टक्क्यांवर आले आहे. मुलांना मुळाक्षरे व काना-मात्रा शिकवण्यासाठी अक्षर-खेळ घेणे, आकर्षक तक्त्यांच्या व चित्रांच्या माध्यमातून अक्षरे शिकविणे, मुलांना आवडतील अशा गोष्टी व गाण्यांच्या मदतीने वाचनाची गोडी निर्माण करणे, अशा प्रकारचे प्रयत्न या पुणे व पिंपरी-चिंचवड मनपा शाळा व ‘डोअर स्टेप स्कूल’च्या शिक्षिकांनी केले. त्याबरोबरच, पालकांच्या सहभागाचे महत्त्व लक्षात घेऊन पालकसभा घेणे, पालकांना मुलांच्या प्रगतीचा अहवाल देणे, वाचन-सरावासाठी अक्षरतक्ते बनवून घरी लावण्यासाठी देणे, या गोष्टीही करण्यात आल्या.
केवळ वर्गात अनुपस्थित राहिल्यामुळे वाचनक्षमतेत मागे पडलेल्या मुलांची संख्यादेखील लक्षणीय असल्याने, अनुपस्थितीची कारणे शोधून मुलांची उपस्थिती वाढविण्यासाठी प्रयत्न करणे आवश्यक वाटले. मुलांच्या अनुपस्थितीमागे दोन प्रमुख कारणे दिसून आली, ती म्हणजे - शालेय वाहतुकीचा अभाव व मुलांसहीत संपूर्ण कुटुंबांचे सतत स्थलांतर. पहिल्या इयत्तेतील मुलांचे स्वतःहून शाळा सोडण्याचे प्रमाण कमी असून, केवळ शाळा लांब आहे, चालत जाऊ शकत नाही, एकट्याने शाळेपर्यंत जाऊ शकत नाही, शालेय वाहतुकीचा खर्च पालक करु शकत नाहीत, अशी कारणे समोर आली आहेत. अशा मुलांना पुणे व पिंपरी-चिंचवड मनपाच्या शाळांमधून शालेय वाहतुकीची सुविधा उपलब्ध करुन देता आल्यास त्यांची एकूण उपस्थिती वाढून, पहिल्या इयत्तेतच ती साक्षर बनू शकतील, हे नक्की!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Constructing a future for migrant labourers’ children
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| (Click on the image to read) |
(Tarini Puri, Times Of India, Pune - June 12, 2013)
Not too far from a cacophonously noisy construction site in Hadapsar, more than 60 boys and girls are busy learning mathematical tables, days of the week, colours and the importance of not cutting trees.
The kids, all children of construction labourers, are housed in three roughly constructed rooms that are filled with books, charts, craft material and cognitive games and puzzles. To guide them are trained social workers and enthusiastic volunteers who are trying their best to give them a bright future.
Mobile schools, camps and crèches like this one provide children with everything: access to swings, toys, books, computers, nutritious food, timely health checks and vaccinations. Above all, they give them asafe abode while their parents go to work.
Today, there are about 200 such schools operating from 2500+ construction sites in the city. While the day-to-day work is managed by NGOs, such mobile camps have the backing of the Pune Municipal Corporation and Credai, an association of builders, which provides not just space but also basic facilities like water and sanitation.
Nisha Mehta, director of Tara Mobile Creches, an NGO, says, “These children, from newborns to those in high school, colleges or even higher, may be as bright or intelligent as any other kid. But they lack vision, opportunities and funding.” Tara Mobile Crèches runs 16 such camps in Pune, Chakan and neighbouring Lavasa.
Mehta said that migrant labourers leave behind their children with them while they work in hazardous conditions at construction sites. “We not only feed them a nutritionist-recommended diet, but also ensure regular health check ups and vaccinations, besides providing them basic non-formal education, computer classes, life lessons and teach them healthy every day habits like washing hands, to prepare them for entry into mainstream schools and colleges,” said Mehta.
Children enrolled in nearby schools usually come to the camps in shifts and are helped with their homework and school-related activities.
Funds for their activities are usually generated by the NGOs themselves though a part of it can also come from builders and volunteers, besides government schemes and philanthropic wings of the corporate sector.
Children enjoy their time here as is evident from high attendance at the camp, which they call their home. “I like coming here because I get to play, eat and even finish my homework properly. The madam has also told me to wash my hands before I eat food,” says nine-yearold Harinath.
Labourers, who leave their children with the NGOs, not only appreciate the security provided, but are also content with the kind of exposure their children get. “I leave my 6-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son here every day in the morning. They eat on time, learn new things, and are looked after well. Both narrate their day’s experiences when I come to collect them in the evening,” said construction labourer Mohan Kushardevdekar.
Doorstep School, which works for educating children living at construction sites and slums, conducts pre-primary classes for children in 3-6 age group. Besides it conducts literacy classes for children who don’t attend mainstream schools. “The non-enrolment rate of children of migrant parents and those living in unauthorised slums is more. There may be close to 2,700 such children in the city, who have either never gone to school, or dropped out because of lack of transport facilities,” said Rajani Paranjpe, the founder- president of Doorstep School, who suggests formulation of a centralised policy for migrant workers’ families on the lines of central schools for children of employees of the Union government.
For NGOs, who keep a track of the children even after they grow up, it is heartening to see their efforts bear fruits. “It is a delight to hear from children who call us to tell their achievements. Many of them have completed engineering, vocational training etc, and secured wellpaying jobs,” said Mehta.
Anjana Dutta, who was first brought to Tara Mobile Creche Pune as a two-year old toddler, is now ready to appear for the chartered accountancy exam. She secured 75% in her class XII examination. “I could not have completed school without the crèche which ensured that I go to school regularly. Now I too want to do something for the children who come here.”
Anjana’s mother, Gunabai, said, “She is the only one who is educated in our family. She taught my husband and I to write our names,” says Gunabai, who is now saving money for her daughter’s higher education.
How the PMC helps
Shivaji Daundkar, labour advisor to the Pune Municipal Corporation, said the PMC is extending all possible support to labourers and their children. “Ensuring facilities for children of construction labourers is a pre-condition for securing a construction licence in Pune. The state government has also set up labour welfare boards in all districts to look after their welfare issues like maternity concerns, children’s education etc. We are also working closely with NGOs in the city and fully support their activities,” he said.
Builders chip in too
Credai president Hemant Naiknavare has acknowledged the work done by NGOs. However, he urged the state government to be more pro-active in extending the benefits to all construction sites. “The mobile or semipermanent crèches and learning centres are an immense help construction labourers’ children who are exposed to not just primary education, but are also taught about hygiene and other important life lessons. Builders pitch in too, not just by giving them monetary help, but by providing sites and shelters for the crèches. Builders also pay 1% of the total cost of construction as a cess to the state government for labour welfare initiatives with which much more can be done for providing educational, dietary and medical help for the labourers and their children,” said Naiknavare.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Need for Daily School Transport Facility
Need For Funding Daily School Transport For Migrant Children In The City Of Pune - Year 2013-14
Migrant children are among the most educationally marginalized in India.
UNICEF Report on Internal Migration and the RTE dated 03-Dec-2012 estimates that there are Approximately 15 Million (1.5 Cr) migrant children in India.
Through the “Every Child Counts- Citizens’ campaign”, it was established that 4500 construction plans for large sites are sanctioned each year by the City Engineer’s office, Pune. Studies carried out estimate that there are migrant families and their children at around 2000 sites. Results of survey done in 2012 show that there are around 4-6 children of school enrolment age (6-7 yrs old) on an average per site .i.e. at least 12000 children across Pune. If we add the number of children of this age group living in other urban migrant communities such as roadside dwellings, unauthorized slums, this number would reach around 15,000.
While working with children from migrant communities and slums in the city, it was observed that daily school transport is a major factor affecting attendance of children and eventually leading to drop-out.
A sample of 600 children admitted from sites (where no NGO works) during June-July 2012 shows that -
The Right to Education Act 2009 mentions provision of free transport or escort for children where schools are beyond a distance of 1.5 kms from residences. Efforts have been made over last few months to urge the Education Department in Pune to make provisions for School transport under the Right to Education Act 2009. However, these efforts have not resulted in any concrete actions from the Government. In fact, the School Board of Pune Municipal Corporation is now appealing to funding agencies for generation of funds for School transport.
Door Step School, through its various programs in Pune and PCMC areas, reaches approximately 10,000 children, 5000 of whom are enrolled in schools every year and require transport facilities.
School transport needs:
The estimated cost of school transport is:
Rs.450/- per child per month
Rs.4,500/- per child per year (considering 10 working months of schools)
Availability of School Transport has a major impact on enrolment and continuation of primary education and therefore requires major funding support from all possible sources.
Migrant children are among the most educationally marginalized in India.
UNICEF Report on Internal Migration and the RTE dated 03-Dec-2012 estimates that there are Approximately 15 Million (1.5 Cr) migrant children in India.
Through the “Every Child Counts- Citizens’ campaign”, it was established that 4500 construction plans for large sites are sanctioned each year by the City Engineer’s office, Pune. Studies carried out estimate that there are migrant families and their children at around 2000 sites. Results of survey done in 2012 show that there are around 4-6 children of school enrolment age (6-7 yrs old) on an average per site .i.e. at least 12000 children across Pune. If we add the number of children of this age group living in other urban migrant communities such as roadside dwellings, unauthorized slums, this number would reach around 15,000.
While working with children from migrant communities and slums in the city, it was observed that daily school transport is a major factor affecting attendance of children and eventually leading to drop-out.
A sample of 600 children admitted from sites (where no NGO works) during June-July 2012 shows that -
- a mere 15% of children are able to attend school without transport or escort;
- 33% of children enrolled could not attend school due to lack of transport;
- even at sites where Door Step School runs Educational Activity Centers, 70% children attending schools need transport support.
The Right to Education Act 2009 mentions provision of free transport or escort for children where schools are beyond a distance of 1.5 kms from residences. Efforts have been made over last few months to urge the Education Department in Pune to make provisions for School transport under the Right to Education Act 2009. However, these efforts have not resulted in any concrete actions from the Government. In fact, the School Board of Pune Municipal Corporation is now appealing to funding agencies for generation of funds for School transport.
Door Step School, through its various programs in Pune and PCMC areas, reaches approximately 10,000 children, 5000 of whom are enrolled in schools every year and require transport facilities.
School transport needs:
- Funding for auto-rickshaw or van payment on monthly basis;
- Local management to monitor safe and timely pick-up and drop; and
- Local escort with the vehicle, for very young children.
The estimated cost of school transport is:
Rs.450/- per child per month
Rs.4,500/- per child per year (considering 10 working months of schools)
Availability of School Transport has a major impact on enrolment and continuation of primary education and therefore requires major funding support from all possible sources.
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