EDUCATION ON WHEELS
The lesser privileged children in and around APMC dumping grounds have a chance to study and learn, thanks to Phirtishala, a school on the move with teachers who are always willing to help
The lesser privileged children in and around APMC dumping grounds have a chance to study and learn, thanks to Phirtishala, a school on the move with teachers who are always willing to help
Eight-year-old Sagar’s parents are contract labourers working in and around APMC dumping grounds. But Sagar is eager to study. He and his neighbours Puja and Manisha attend school regularly. Only this is no ordinary school run from a brick and mortar building or even a tin shed.
Sagar is one of the 30-odd pupils from his batch who attend Phirtishala or the ‘school on wheels’ in Navi Mumbai that took off two years back. “I want to study and join a big school later. After I grow up, I will work in an office and help my parents,” says Sagar with quiet conviction.
Jan Vikash Society (a Fransalian undertaking) had introduced Phirtishala in Navi Mumbai two years ago with an aim to impart education to the underprivileged kids (or their parents) who are working at the dumping grounds.
Initially, it was a tough call to convince the children as well as their parents to take the benefits of education free of cost. But currently, this mobile school has been getting more than enough students to teach everyday.
A big van equipped with books, study materials, also an audio-visual facility, three teachers and attendants who carry snacks and water, goes to the APMC dumping ground to teach the children everyday for four hours. Around 30 children can be accommodated in the van at a time and they are taught to develop their cognitive and motor skills. The primary objective of this school is to provide education for those out of reach, attract and influence them without cohesion or force. Teachers are passionate and are ever willing to impart knowledge.
Once they are introduced with the basics, they are instructed and helped to take up admission in the nearby municipal schools for higher education,” explains Father Francis Mulackal, the director of the society. In two years, the number of students has shot up to 300 and 90 out of them are regular students.
This school begins at 8:30 am and is on till 3:30 pm. The students follow a syllabus and are divided according to their ability and level of learning. They are given uniforms and books as an encouragement to learn more.
On behalf of Jan Vikas Society, Father Andrew, the coordinator, added, “We have been reaching out to the underprivileged children specially the rag pickers and the street children at the dumping grounds in Turbhe naka and APMC market in Navi Mumbai. We also constantly supervise the students progress and find new ways to improve it.” Apart from this, the society runs six day-care centres in some of the prominent slum areas for the children of the migrant workers.
And it’s not all studies and no fun. Come any religious or community festivals, the society celebrates them all and these children are only too happy to join in the fun and frolic. “These children and their parents are made to realise the value of education and its impact on their lives with the help of interactions, awareness programmes and personal talks,” adds Fr Andrew.