Details about our project on
Elimination of
Childlabour Through Education
…………………………………………………………
While working with farm labour during
1988-90 the organization exposed to the issue of Child Labour. When the
trustee saw the children working as child or boned Labour in
agriculture, he could realize the intensity
of this issue. Since children can be employed on
low wages and are vulnerable to
exploitation, profit-seeking landowners prefer them to their adult counterparts. Poverty, lack of
adequate schooling facilities, apathy towards
education formed some of the major causes
forcing children to work. Moreover the lack
of social recognition to and sensitivity
towards working children’s reality was more
appalling. Since 1988-89 we initiated
sustained campaign to create social awareness
against child labour.
This
project has been developed after a comprehensive thought process and by
evolving a method that addresses problems at grassroots level. It aims to
ensure lasting solution by involving participation of different stakeholders of
the community through a focused approach on child motivation, empowerment of
School education committee, supplementing formal education through village
study centers initiated especially for former school dropouts and increasing
the parents’ responsiveness towards their children.
The specific objectives are:
1.
To promote enrolment of child laborers as
well as children in formal primary education school.
2. To provide child
laborers equal opportunities for formal school education and supplement formal
education through village level study centers.
3. To strengthen
school education committees on village level by building the capacities of
their members.
4. To enhance awareness
amongst parents about their children’s formal education.
5. To promote
participation of children in decision making on issues concerning them.
6. To enhance dialogue
and participation of the local Education Department officials, local Village
Education Committee members, Gram Panchayat representatives, village school
teachers and parents for improvement in quality of education and reduction of
school dropouts.
7. To promote
awareness of the local community regarding importance of education.
2. Specific expected results :
1.
At
least 400 erstwhile child labourers become literate
- 100 children would continue in main-stream
education.
- Interest in formal education triggered amongst
the child labourers and their parents.
- At least 50% of children would be exposed to
computer literacy since each study centre would be equipped with computer
(provided by TechMahindra and L&T InfoTech companies) and educational
CD ROMs (provided by Azim Premji Foundation) and computer-based basic
literacy packages (provided by Tata Consultancy Services).
- 10,000 families will be made aware about ill
effects of child labour.
- Establishment of a study cum hobby centre at each
village that supports formal school education.
- 100% enrolment of children in schools in the
project area.
- 90% fall in number of children dropping out of
school.
- Reduction in incidence of child labour from the
project area.
10. Village Education Committee
becoming active and responsible about the village school
MONITORING INDICATORS:
Following are the
monitoring indicators-
·
Number of child labourers joining and
continuing education in the village school.
·
Nature of working of the village education
committee.
·
Number of school dropouts from the project
villages.
·
Number of child labourers originating from
the project villages.
·
Nature of participation of the Education
department local officials and Gram Panchayat members regarding functioning of
the village school.
·
Number of decisions taken with children’s
perspectives taken on board.
EVALUATION INDICATORS:
Following data and
information would be recorded by PIRD during the project duration:
·
Attendance record of children participating
in village study centers.
·
Daily diary maintained by the organizer cum
teacher of the village study center.
·
Syllabus
Plan made for supplementing formal school teaching at the study center.
·
Gradation
test’s records of each child.
·
Records
of tests undertaken every two months and progress card of each child.
·
Records
of teaching learning aids developed and used at the village study center.
·
Daily
diary and monthly reports developed by the project team.
·
Events’
register.
·
Activities
undertaken against the stipulated time schedule.
·
School
enrollment records of children.
·
Extent
of participation and involvement of the target group
·
Field
visit records.
·
Records
and photos of awareness campaigns undertaken
Responses reflected in the various
components of the project
·
Vehicle
log-book.
·
Accounts
·
Resources
utilized
·
Studies
/ surveys / assessments undertaken in the project area by government or NGO.
1)
3.
Activities necessary for achieving each result:
- Educational Awareness Campaign (
1 day for every village)
- School Enrolment drive
- Village Study Centers
- Strengthening of Village
Education Committee
- Dialogue with Education
Department officials
- . Children get-togethers
- Mass awareness and information
dissemination meets
- Capacity building of village
study center organizer cum teacher
- Team work review meetings
