Navsarjan Trust SchoolsGujarat

Maulik NagriJanuary 2013

Agenda

Background Our Involvement Student Count 2012-2013 Proposal Observations during site visit

– Pictures

QED Update– Pictures

Background

Navsarjan founded in 1989 Goal: provide quality education to Dalit children facing harsh discrimination

in government schools 3 active schools near Ahmedabad, Gujarat Estimated total cost per child INR ~1000 per month in 2010-2011

– Includes lodging and boarding Navsarjan has consistently increased student count from 2007-2008 to

2012-2013 Link: http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=840

Our Involvement

Site visits in April 2007, January 2009, May 2010 and May 2012

Asha-Boston set up a scholarship program to encourage enrollment of female students

Parents willing to pay for boys’ education, but do not encourage their daughters for education

Marriage for girls at an early age very common

Student Count in 2012-2013

Student count fell to 322 in 2012-2013 from 400 in 2011-2012– Drop in students due to space constraints, expectations of better facilities, change in

sanitation– Total student count up 142 (or 49%) from 2007-2008 to 2012-2013– Girl student count up 50 (or 128%) from 2007-2008 to 2012-2013

Long-term target to enroll 40% girls in student population

Nos. % Nos. % Nos. %Katariya 5th 9 69% 4 31% 13 100%Katariya 6th 10 50% 10 50% 20 100%Katariya 7th 25 63% 15 38% 40 100%Katariya 8th 23 55% 19 45% 42 100%

Total 67 58% 48 42% 115 100%Rayka 5th 8 89% 1 11% 9 100%Rayka 6th 19 79% 5 21% 24 100%Rayka 7th 17 77% 5 23% 22 100%Rayka 8th 18 72% 7 28% 25 100%

Total 62 78% 18 23% 80 100%Sami 5th 8 80% 2 20% 10 100%Sami 6th 28 88% 4 13% 32 100%Sami 7th 30 68% 14 32% 44 100%Sami 8th 38 93% 3 7% 41 100%

Total 104 82% 23 18% 127 100%Grand total Total 233 72% 89 28% 322 100%

School StandardStudents

Boys Girls Total

2012-2013 Proposal

Navsarjan requested: INR 18,75,000 or ~$34,000– INR 800 per month TIMES 10 months TIMES 250 students– Historically, Asha has subsidized education of female students and

very needy male students Our proposal: Annual installment of INR 800,000 or ~$15,000

– INR 800 per month TIMES 10 months TIMES 100 students– 1st semi-annual installment of INR 400,000 or ~$7,500

FOR CURRENT DISCUSSION– 2nd semi-annual installment of INR 400,000 or ~$7,300– “Quality in Education” Funding 2012-2013 ~$1,200– Project Specific Donations ~$2,810

Observations during May 2012 Site Visit

Visited school at Sami and interviewed teachers, students and parents

Navsarjan residential schools do “more with less”– 3 multi-functional: rooms; classroom during day; lodge at night– Human waste is re-used as fertilizer for gardens– Consistently raised student count in the past 4 academic years

Schools are well-managed– School management and school staff very motivated– Sami school generally clean and well-organized– Students have a daily schedule and are taught essential life

skills– Cook and Caretaker live on premises

Students interviews reveal confidence and enthusiasm in them

Parents interview reveal enthusiasm to send children to school

Site Visit Pictures 2011-2012

Site Visit Pictures 2011-2012

Other Status Updates

Completed 2nd floor in Sami School Big foreign grant rolling off in September 2012 Plans for 2013-2014:

– Hired on-site wardens for 2 schools– Add 9th standard to all the 3 schools– Build science labs in 3 schools– Short-term Vocational Courses: Bakery, Medical Assistant– Focus on teacher training

Long-Term Plans– Build second floor at 2 other schools– Add 10th standard to all 3 schools– Focus on redesigning curriculum– Construct a 4th school– Plan to add vocational classes at Navsarjan’s vocational schools

Potential collaboration with IIM-Ahmedabad Courses: Bee Keeping, Growing Mushrooms, Papier mache, Creating Wooden Toys, Wormi-

compost, Create furniture

QEd Update

Asha awarded Navsarjan grant to expand “Chhotte Bhim” drama competition under the “Quality of Education” [QEd] initiative

Navsarjan holds “Chhotte Bhim” drama competition for both:– 3 residential schools

Finals hled in April 2012

– Bhimshalas (after school programs) Covered 1,200 children from 68 villages 1st round held in September 2011, Semi-finals in February 2012, and Finals in May 2012 Site visit covered Final

Navsarjan used the QEd grant to:– Print more pamphlets;– Design costumes for the drama competition; and– Provide medals.

Advantages of “Chhotte Bhim” drama competition:– Promotes reading efficiency and creativity– Higher engagement and retention in students– Drama competition becomes a uniting force in the community

Incidentally, Navsarjan had come with 3 ideas for the QeD Grant – Drama Competition (nominated by Asha-Boston)– Science Labs– Educational Toys

“Chhotte Bhim” Drama Competition 2011-2012

“Chhotte Bhim” Drama Competition 2011-2012

THANK YOU