Now report out-of-school children online...

Do you see out-of-school children on streets, at traffic signals, or near construction sites? Do you feel like helping them but cannot? Now you can report about such children online and help us help them reach schools! Just visit http://eccpune.org/reportchildren and fill up a small form to submit information about children spotted by you. That's the easiest way to contribute in Every Child Counts Citizens' Campaign. Do visit the website now...

लोकसत्ताच्या 'लाऊडस्पीकर' फोरममध्ये इसीसी

अन्न, वस्त्र, निवाऱ्याबरोबरच 'शिक्षण' ही सहा ते १४ वर्षे वयोगटातील मुलांची मूलभूत गरज आहे, यावर २००९च्या शिक्षण हक्क कायद्याने शिक्कामोर्तब केले. हा कायदा अस्तित्वात आल्यापासून यात बऱ्याच सुधारणा झाल्या, भविष्यात होत राहतील. पण, शिक्षणाच्या प्रवाहापासून दूर फेकल्या गेलेल्या मुलांना न्याय देण्यात किंवा जे या प्रवाहात आधीपासून आहेत त्यांचे गुणवत्तापूर्ण शिक्षणाअभावी सुरू असलेले 'गटांगळ्या' घेणे थांबले आहे का, याचा विचार होणे आवश्यक आहे.  शिक्षण हक्क कायदा आणि मराठी शाळांचा प्रश्न या विषयावर पुण्यात आयोजित करण्यात आलेल्या 'लोकसत्ता-लाऊडस्पीकर' या कार्यक्रमात, शिक्षण हक्क कायद्याची आवश्यकता, त्याच्या अंमलबजावणीमध्ये उद्भवणाऱ्या अडचणी, शिक्षणाची घसरणारी गुणवत्ता, नियोजित मुदतीत सर्व तरतुदींची पूर्तता होणार का, कायद्याच्या आणि अनुदानाच्या सापळ्यात अडकलेल्या मराठी शाळांचे भविष्य, शाळाबाह्य़ मुले अशा विविध मुद्दय़ांवर शिक्षण क्षेत्रातील विविध घटकांच्या प्रतिनिधींनी चर्चा केली. चर्चेमध्ये शिक्षण संचालक डॉ. श्रीधर साळुंखे, पुणे शिक्षण मंडळाचे अध्यक्ष बाबा धुमाळ, शिक्षणसंस्था महामंडळाचे कार्यवाह डॉ. आर. पी. जोशी, डोअरस्टेप स्कूलच्या सदस्या भावना कुलकर्णी, शिक्षणतज्ज्ञ डॉ. रमेश पानसे, अ. ल. देशमुख, विविध शिक्षण संस्थांचे प्रतिनिधी, शिक्षक, स्वयंसेवी संस्थांचे प्रतिनिधी आणि पालक संघटनांचे प्रतिनिधी सहभागी झाले होते.

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Come, Join this Citizens’ Campaign...ECC!

As a housewife, there were countless occasions when I paused in whatever that I was busy with and wondered, “Isn’t there something else worthwhile that I can do with my time? My children have grown up and lead their own lives. So then, where do I invest my energy and time?”
 

‘Seeing every child in school and learning well’ is a dream close to my heart. It pains me every time I see children who should be in school, roaming around. How often I have wished I had some qualities of a Pied Piper who could lead them to a nearby school!
When I saw an opportunity to volunteer for the Every Child Counts (ECC) Citizens’ campaign, I just knew I had to be a part of it. The campaign is working towards the common goal of admitting all 6-7 year old children in Pune in a PMC school near their home. These children are mainly from poor families who form the bulk of migrant laborers that move from one location to another in search of livelihood.

At the meeting held every Saturday for all the new volunteers, I was impressed with the total commitment and enthusiasm of the other volunteers. I was happy to be told that volunteers have flexible timings; in fact we ourselves have to decide the area and how many hours a week we can work for this campaign. We also have to choose the type of work we are interested in so that we naturally contribute our skills to the campaign.
The work is broadly divided into three steps: surveying sites to identify children; admitting them to PMC schools in their vicinity; and doing a follow-up to find the retention in schools. I was a little hesitant but decided to get to know the basics and so decided to accompany another ECC worker for a survey on a construction site the next day. I was gently advised to wear comfortable walking shoes!

The site supervisor had given us the required permission to meet the children in the labor camp. We wore helmets and accompanied him going past partially completed buildings. We walked by mounds of rubble and deep pits to reach a clearing with a number of huts arranged in rows. This was the labor camp. At a glance it seemed deserted but as we stood there and explained our work to the supervisor, curious eyes started peering at us. A few other workers stopped their work to find out what business we had in their territory! In the meantime, one person was sent with a message to the labor camp. Before I could ask ‘Are there any children living here?’ there was a sudden outpouring of little feet and a 50 metre dash to reach us!

There were 37 children of ages ranging from a few months to young teenagers. I was so shocked that I had no words. Statistical data translated into reality made an unbelievable scene! We took down the details of all the children over six years. They were asked if they would like to go to school. Some of the younger ones jumped up with excitement; the older ones who had some idea of a school they had attended long, long, ago were more subdued in their response. ‘Oh school! Very difficult to go and come!’ was the general refrain of the adults who had also gathered there. ‘The older siblings have to look after the younger ones and girls also have to look after the home!’

I soon realized there is very little awareness about the importance of education and its long term benefits. Their immediate requirement of food and shelter overrides all other possibilities and opportunities for their children.  Also the constant change in their environment – new surroundings, new language, new challenges in their day-to-day life makes them very apprehensive of sending their children to school. I also learnt that counseling parents is the most important intermediate step between identifying and admitting a child in school. The best results are obtained when the parents are strongly motivated to educate their children.  Obstacles of any shape and size are then overcome easily.

As the number of children was quite large, a school preparation camp was conducted to facilitate their entry into school life. A teacher was appointed and classes were conducted regularly in April and May. Unfortunately we could not interact with the parents on a daily basis as they would be at work.We sometimes stayed back or came early to meet the parents and convince them to send their children to school.

By mid-June 2012, these children had learned to sit in one place and write the Marathi alphabet. They were in short, ready for school and were admitted in a PMC school near their home. Today, some attend school regularly but many are unable to attend due to lack of transport or a suitable escort to take them to school. As the construction sites are far away from the main road, going by bus for 6-year-olds is not a practical option. Also, as their parents are busy earning their daily bread, nobody is available at home to ensure they go to school. In many cases ECC workers have arranged for their school transport along with an escort.

The ECC campaign has benefitted many such children. This is just the first step. We have a long way to go to not only ensure all children go to school,but also are retained there.
If you share the dream of seeing every child in school and can spare 3-4 hours a week, please do come forward and lend your might to this campaign. Whether it is in the field collecting data, admitting children in schools, following up, counseling parents, or helping in administration, research, compiling data, making teaching aids etc. your skills are most welcome.

Just getting out of my comfort zone and going into the field has given me the satisfaction of helping at least some children go to school. Their smiles are rewards in themselves and have acted as an impetus for further involvement in the campaign – wanting to reach out to more out-of-school children.

We have a daunting task before us because we know each and every child counts! Join this campaign and surprise yourself with your own achievements! That is a promise for now.

For more information:
http://everychildcounts-pune.blogspot.com
http://on.fb.me/eccpune

- Archana Vyavaharkar
(Volunteer with ECC Campaign)

A Small Step Towards Big Initiative: ECC News in Indian Express

News about Every Child Counts campaign published in The Indian Express of 14th November 2012.

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ECC Campaign Status in August 2012

'Every Child Counts' campaign has initiated an ongoing 'survey--admission--follow-up' activity since last year. Efforts are being taken in order to bridge the gap between children and schools. The campaign team, along with citizen volunteers, has been trying to find out children, who need help in reaching schools. Most of the children not getting enrolled in schools, are from migrant labour families. So far, ECC has conducted survey at more than 700 locations where migrant labourers are found. (It is estimated that total number of such locations in Pune would be more than 2,000!) Out of these 700+ locations, around 450 had children who needed help in reaching schools.

Till August 2012, ECC could enrol around 600 children in schools across Pune city. However, it is observed that only 400 are attending schools regularly. Why are these 200 children still away from school? Here's a quick analysis by ECC:

1. A child of 6 or 7 years age cannot travel/walk/ride to school on its own. It needs some escort for daily commute. Preferably, this escort should be the child's parents, which is hardly possible in case of labourers working on daily wages. (Forget about child's basic psychological need of being with mother or father during its initial exposure to external world!)
Statistics: Out of 400, less than 10 children are being escorted to school by parents. Around 100 children have to walk to the school on their own or in groups.

2. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Education Dept (Shikshan Mandal) of PMC have committed to provide transport facility to children in question. However, the management and logistics part (finding a local van or rickshaw, identifying and verifying needy children, supervising daily transport activity, actual payments and reimbursements, etc) has held back the scheme till date.
Statistics: With the help of few concerned school staff members, close to 130 children are getting benefitted by some or the other means of transport (but with no assured provisions for entire year).

3. As an integral part of taking every child to school, ECC decided to make transport provisions on immediate basis, wherever required. Focus was shifted from new admissions to continuity of already admitted children. Local vans or rickshaws were identified by volunteers and field staff, and transport started at very non-standard rates. It is becoming difficult to arrange funds for everyday transport expenses. Not sure how many days ECC can transport these children. (And more than 50% admissions are still pending...)
Statistics: Around 150 children are using transport facility by ECC, since June 2012. Vans and rickshaws are charging anywhere between Rs.400 and Rs.800 per child per month. (PMC estimate on school transport is Rs.300 per child per month. Daily management and follow-up with rickshaw-wallas is a different story altogether...)

What are possible solutions?

1. Parents taking interest in child's education & attendance in school. THE BEST, but most difficult solution!
2. Schools and PMC arranging daily transport of children living away from school. Schools need to be empowered (financially and resourcefully) for handling this activity.
3. Local citizens volunteering to arrange and monitor the transport (and escort, if possible) on daily basis. A group of concerned senior citizens, professionals, students, ladies, can help the children reach school everyday, safely and surely.

The 'survey--admission--follow-up' process will have to be continued till every child gets its right to education. The campaign is a citizens' initiative. It believes in every citizen's contribution. And it believes - every child counts!

Volunteering Opportunities with ECC

The 'Every Child Counts' campaign started school admissions from 15th of June 2012. Children surveyed till June are being enrolled in nearest PMC schools. Since the target group belongs to migrant labour families, it is difficult to declare the survey activity as 'complete'. With new constructions coming up in the city every day, more number of migrant labour and their children can be found everywhere. Hence, the survey--admission--follow-up activities will go on in different areas of Pune. Looking at the scope of work, ECC needs many more volunteers to contribute in their own area. Volunteers can participate in following ways:

1. Follow-up of children enrolled through ECC campaign: Sites and schools will be assigned to volunteers, based on their location. They can visit the school on Saturday or visit the sites in morning/evening time (or on Sunday) to track attendance of the children. Any difficulty/problem can be reported back to campaign team for further action.

2. Conduct extra-curricular activities at schools on Saturday: Depending on skills and availability of volunteers, activities like story-telling, art and craft, painting, etc. can be planned at PMC schools or Door Step School construction site classes.

3. Help in making teaching aids: Some of the volunteers can visit DSS training center to learn making teaching aids. Volunteer groups can then plan this activity on Sundays for all other volunteers at their own locations.

4. Write about own experience: Volunteers involved in survey and admission activities can write about their experiences. We will share them with other volunteers, will publish on blog, and will try to send to newspapers. Volunteers can also help by spreading the word about ECC campaign and immediate needs like transport and follow-up.

Please write to us if you want to join the campaign and help children get their right of education!

ECC Presentation - July 2012