Akshaya Mukul | TNN
New Delhi: Education was never so innovative: Schools in fishing boats,
mobile schools in brick kilns; programmes like Meena campaign, Ujasbhani and
Diwali camp for girl’s education, special teachers for children with
disabilities.
These and many more innovations made by fouryear-old Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan to achieve universalisation of elementary education have been
documented by IIM-Ahmedabad.
The 91-page document highlights best practices and innovations done by
AP, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Orissa, Tamil Nadu, UP, Uttaranchal and West Bengal.
First, AP’s fishing boat schools. Done on an inland sea-canal in East
Godavari district, the scheme evolved amidst adversity.
Some fishermen families had migrated to the area, but were not accepted
by local fishermen. This resulted in migrants finding shelter in their boats
complete with room for children and older members.
The family sailed into the sea for work with little scope of education
for the children.
AP’s SSA administration listed 310 children of 70 such families, who
were taken out on another boat for joyrides. Slowly, it turned into
education with teaching tools and play kits. After two-three months of boat
education, the children were prepared for a residential school. Except for
57 of 310 children, all joined regular schools. Further, there are a
non-residential bridge course and a residential bridge course for children
of migrant workers from Orissa in Rangareddy, Timmaipalli and Medak
districts of AP. In fact, Orissa and AP have an inter-state collaboration on
migrant children. West Bengal has Rabindra Mukta Vidyalaya for children who
could not go to upper primary schools. For special children, Tamil Nadu has
created specially-designed play parks, while AP has arrangements for
residential bridge courses and special teachers.
Three innovations by Gujarat for girls’ education are Diwali camp,
Ujasbhani and Dikari Mare Bhanvu Chhe (Daughter, I want to study). Apart
from giving girls the rare chance to travel in buses/trains out of their
village, the Diwali camp was aimed at using leisure time productively,
giving girls an opportunity for all round personality development and
empowering them.
Ujasbhani – a collective output of women writers – has become a rage and
made a major contribution towards gender sensitivity, besides helping change
the attitude to girl education. Dikari Mare aims to take help of daughters
to teach illiterate mothers. UP’s Meena Manch is geared towards increasing
enrolment, retention of girl child, as well as providing them ‘mental food’.
There are 19,005 manchs each having 20 girls who monitor attendance as
well read out from the kit of 13 books. Stories are discussed linking them
with issues arising in the girl’s daily life.
Haryana provides free bicycles to girl who does not have a school in her
own village with the rider that she has to appear for the class VIII exam to
fully own the cycle.
Similarly, panchayats who achieve 100% girl enrolment are given a prize
of Rs 1 lakh. INNOVATION IS THE KEY
Fishing boat schools in Andhra Pradesh
Mobile schools for children of brick kiln workers in AP
Bridge courses in AP for children of migrant workers from Orissa
Rabindra Mukta Vidyalaya for children who could not go to upper primary
schools in West Bengal Diwali Camp for girl child in Gujarat: Uses leisure time productively, gives girls an opportunity for an all round personality development and empowers
them .Ujasbhani (a collective output of women writers),
Gujarat: Teaches gender sensitivity and helps change attitude to girl education
‘Dikari Mare Bhanvu Chhe’ (Daughter I want to Study), Gujarat: Aims to
project daughters as role model Meena Manch, UP: For increasing enrolment,
retention of girl child. Managed by girls
Ballikajyothi, Sahavasa camp, Kerala: mix of textbook, activity-based learning and vocational training
Free bicycle to girl child, Haryana: Rs 1 lakh reward to panchayat which ensures 100% enrolment of girl child
Chinnara Karnataka Darshan: Children taken out on a long tour
Jagruthi Shibhira, Karnataka: Awareness about pitfalls of early marriage,
low status of women
Pratibha Karanji, Karnataka: Platform for girls to showcase their talent in
activities like singing, quiz and dancing
URL :
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA2LzEwLzE3I0F
yMDEyMDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom