APNA SKOOL NEWS LETTER (May – August 2013)

Page 1 of 4

We express our heartfelt gratitude to all well-wishers, donors, small and large, sponsors in the past and

present, and partners in our effort to educate children of migrant workers, who represent one of the

most severely underprivileged groups in India. Apart from the abundant love and monetary support, we

look forward, as always, to your comments and suggestions.

Primary Educational Activities

As ever, enrolment in Apna Skool centres continued to be robust in this

period, with as many as 563 children enrolled across 27 centres spread over a

large part of rural Kanpur where there are brick kilns. The table in Appendix A

summarises the enrolment during the period May –August 2013.

Apart from regular classroom instruction, we strive to offer additional

resources in various forms, both to address the lack of continuity in

educational opportunities that arises from the very migrant nature of the

children’s parents, and to support related vocational training programs to

address future employability (often, understandably, a concern for their

parents).

1. Apna Skool coordinators travelled to the villages from which some of the largest contingents of

migrants arrive in Kanpur. The primary intent of such visits is to ensure that children enrol in their

local village schools and are otherwise not completely cut off from an educational environment once

their families leave the Kanpur area. Of the subset we have visited (in their respective villages) we

have been able to keep an updated tracking list of up to 40 students from the Hameerpur district,

UP and up to 26 students from interior Bihar districts. A full list of these students and their villages is

provided in Appendix B.

2. Several of our alumni remain in the Kanpur area, whom we have enrolled in local schools. We

consider this to be an especially noteworthy symptom of the success of our programs because this

implies that the first contact with an educational environment that many of these children had

through the Apna Skool centres has spurred them on to continue down this path. Appendix C

comprises a list of 47 such students, along with details of the schools in which they are enrolled.

3. Vocational training programs have been a mainstay of the

Apna Skool philosophy since its inception. On May 31st, along

with a trip to the Kanpur zoo (see section on tours), children

used chalk powder and plaster of Paris in moulds to make

chalks. This exercise had the added benefit of teaching

children about sustainability and recycling. In addition,

computer classes were run in the evenings, especially for the

subset of 47 students who have now graduated from Apna

Skools and are enrolled in regular schools.

Apna Skool Newsletter Page 2 of 4 May – August 2013

4. Interactions with parents have always been considered a critical component of educating their

children. A community meal, in which all children, their teachers and parents took part, was

arranged along with the school’s Annual Function in June 2013. The discussion was led by Vijaya didi,

and parents were asked to get involved, especially in ensuring continuity of their children’s

education once the migrant families return to their village. The discussion mainly centred on the

multifaceted ways in which educating a child impacts future development.

5. Examinations for children in classes 1, 2 and 4 were held for the ~563 students at the centres during

the period May 11th-18th. Contrary to the usual sense of nervousness children usually have during

exam periods, the children were positively overjoyed and enthusiastic about this event, which

speaks highly to the interactive and enjoyable classroom experience they have gained at Apna Skool.

Children from classes 3 and 5 children were enrolled for tests monitored by National Institute of

Opening Schools (NIOS), which will provide relevant certification.

We are very proud to note that 7 students (see Appendix D for names) who have been in the Apna

Skool system for years have successfully passed their 10th and 12th class UP board exams (5th & 8th

June). This is a momentous occasion for families that have been illiterate for generations.

6. The school year ends and summer vacation starts between 10th-20th June to coincide with the onset

of the monsoon season, when the brick kilns close and children return to their villages. A majority of

the centres also close at the same time, and restart in mid-October, when the workers return. The

closures notwithstanding, other activities, including teacher training and development and follow-up

in native villages, continue. In addition, six centres continue functioning, after a summer break of

two weeks, for several children that remain in the Kanpur area– the centres that remain open are

listed in Appendix E.

Teacher Training Workshop (May 3 – 5)

Venue- Swami Vivekananda Vidyalaya Trainer- Sushil Joshi (Eklavya, M.P) Subject- Science & Social Study

All Apna Skool teachers participated in the Teacher Training

Workshop conducted by Sushil Joshi from Ekalavya.

On the first day, teachers were taught the use of microscopes as

well as species identification techniques.

On the second day Sushil Joshi demonstrated the use of

Chromatography to isolate Chlorophyll which yields the green

colour of onion leaves. The chemicals properties were discussed.

On the third day, after learning about Chandrakala, discussions

ensued on teaching methodologies. The lively discussion

included several teacher suggestions on how they might use

what they learnt in this workshop in future classes.

Apna Skool Newsletter Page 3 of 4 May – August 2013

Tours, Excursions & Events

A trip to the Kanpur zoo was organised on May 31st. All class 1 and 2 children of Apna Skool participated

in the visit, which comprised an educational walk through enclosures for animals ranging from monkeys,

and birds to lions, rhinos and tigers. The trip included a delightful lunch of Poories, Halwa and fruits and

plenty of singing sessions together with Vijaya didi.

On 11th of June Apna Skool students were taken on an excursion

to popular sites in Kanpur city – the stops included a 140 year old

church, the Ganesh Udyan Park, the Rev Mall at Parade (historic

merchant area of Kanpur) and the glass house exhibition at Moti

Jheel. For many children, this was the first visit to a church. More

pertinently, migrant labourers’ children seldom get to see sites

such as these, considered to be the privilege of only the middle

and upper classes. It is worth noting that such visits instil a level of

joy that both the parents and the children then associate with the

schooling process itself.

June marks the end of term, and a graduation ceremony with an annual function is held each year. This

year, the function was held at the Tatiyaganj centre and the chief guests were Asha Shukla Ji and

Tripathi Ji, who handed out report cards and prizes (a story book and game of Ludo). Children

participated in a Tilak ceremony, which also included the parents, and the event ended with a cultural

program.

Apna Skool Newsletter Page 4 of 4 May – August 2013

Visitors to Apna Skool

Over the years, we have had the pleasure of hosting several well -wishers, donors and media

representatives who have shown an interest in our three-decade old, ongoing effort to affect social

change by educating the next generation of one of the most exploited class of workers in India – the

migrant population. This year, we hosted visits for the following people:

Shahira didi, who is a correspondent of The Tribune newspaper, visited the Apna Skool centre at

Tatiyaganj on 16th May. Shahira didi, who hails from Bihar – a state from which a majority of the migrant

workers arrive in Kanpur – witnessed a Science experiment conducted solely by the children of the

centre, followed by recitations of actions songs and poems in their native language, Bhojpuri.

We had a Project review meeting of the Asha Kanpur chapter on 29th and 30th June, on the occasion of

the visit by Thierry of Mala Foundation. Also present in this meeting were Sirish Bhaiya and Susan didi.

Accompanying Thierry was Shri Annamalai, Manager of the Mala foundation run Gandhi School at

Puduchery. Apna Skool children interacted with two children from Gandhi School, who came with

Thierry Bhaiya and Shri Annamalai. Even though there was a language barrier between the children from

Apna Skool and Gandhi School, Vijaya didi facilitated the interactions by standing in as a Hindi-Tamil

translator for all involved.

Apna Skool children from various centres gathered at the premises of Apna Ghar – the Apna Skool

campus at Tatiyaganj – at 5PM on 30th June for a cultural show by the children and an evening meal for

all. The Apna Ghar (hostel) children acted as perfect hosts to the visitors and entertained all present.

Newsletter compiled by Sangeeta Verma

APNA SKOOL Team,

Jagriti Bal Vikas Samiti, Kanpur

http://apnaskool-kanpur.blogspot.in/

http://jagriti.seeyourimpact.org/

http://balsajag.blogspot.com/

Apna Skool Newsletter – Appendices i May – August 2013

Appendix A – Student enrolment in Apna Skool Centres

Centre Name Teacher(s) Operating time

Enrolment

May June July August

1 Dhamikheda (2 Centres)

1- Urmi la Kashyap 2-Manju Bala

9:00 – 2:30

(May) 8:00 -11:30 (Jun)

42 42 42 46

2 Panki Power House (2 Centre)

1-Laxmi Verma 8:00 – 1:30 48 40 35 35

3 Panki Padhav (2 Centre)

1- Hardas 2- Renu Tiwari

12:30 – 5:00 (May) 3:00 – 6:30 (Jun)

35 35 40 46

4 Tamsaha (Primary School)

1- Raksha Bajpai 7:00 – 8:00 21 24 25

5 Tamsaha (Tuition) 1- Amit (May)/ Raksha Bajpai(Aug)

4:00 – 5 :00 8 29 10

6 Tatiyaganj- 1 1- Sanyogita Yadav 10:30 – 4:00 28 21

7 Tatiyaganj- 2 (2 Centres)

1- Nirmala Kashyap (May) / Alok Gupta(Vol Jul Aug)

10:30 – 4:00 28 29 11 11

8 Kalra -1 Apna Skool 1- Pushpa Devi 8:00 – 1:00 25 23

9 Mera Apna Skool 1- Raksha Bajpai 8:00 – 2:00 21 20

10 Vishnu Apna Skool

(2 Centres) 1-Chandani Kushwaha 9:30 – 2:00 35 35

11 Avon Apna Skool 1- Manish 10:00 – 2:30 26 26

12 Murari Apna Skool (2 Centres)

1-Najma 2-Amit 7:30 – 1:00 34 33

13 Saran Apna Skool 1- Pradeep Yadav 8:00 – 12:30 25 24

14 Rautepur – Bhola B.K.

1-Sushil Kumar 9: 00 – 12:30 25 24

15 Maharajpur Apna Skool

1-Shyambabu 1:00 – 5:00 30 24 23 25

16 Samrat Apna Skool 1- Omkant Dwivedi 8:30 – 12:30 31 31

17 Kalra -2 Apna Skool 1-Pradeep Yadav 12:30 - 3:30 20 21

18 Kalra -3 Apna Skool 1- Si ta (May) /Pushpa

Devi (Jul-Aug) 11:00 – 3:00 30 20 21 23

19 Ankit Apna Skool 1- Sudha Gupta 9:00 – 2:00 28 10

20 Lodhar Apna Skool 1- Babl i 9:00 – 1:30 23 23

21 Juhi Apna Skool 1-Sunita Sriastava 2:00 – 5:00 23 23

Total Number of Students

563 510 210 244

Apna Skool Newsletter – Appendices i i May – August 2013

Appendix B – Apna Skool alumni – present schools

Name of Student Class No. of

Students Name of Centre

Name of the current School

1-Rinki B.Com(II) 1 Sarsaiya Ghat (Mahila Park)

D.A.V. Degree College, Kanpur.

1-Rahul 2-Tarannum 3-Soniya 11 3

Dhamikheda Apna Skool

Jawaharlal Nehru Inter College, Kalyanpur,

Kanpur.

1-Shubham 10 1

1-Sarvesh 2-Arti 9 2

1-Mansi 2-Nahid 3-Shivam 8 3

1-Manvi 2-Jyoti 3-Kajal 4- Komal 5-Nilesh

7 5

1-Ram Singh 11 1 Tatiyaganj-2 Apna

Skool

Gaytri Devi Gyan

Manjusha Inter College, Nankari, Kanpur

1-Sanjana 11 1

Panki Apna Skool

Mahaveer Ucchatar Madhyamik Vidyalaya,

Kanpur

1-Rampyari 2-Tulsi 3-Vishambar 10 3

1-Mohini 2-Pavan 9 2

1-Dharti 2-Ganga 3-Anju 6 3 1-Sandeep 2-Akash 5 2 Vidhut Parishad Inter-

College, Panki, Kanpur 1-Kuldeep 2 1

1-Laxmi 5 1 Panki Mandir Education

Centre, Panki, Kanpur

1-Monu 10 1 Kalra -1 Apna

Skool(B.K)

Adarsh Inter College,

Tatiyaganj, Kanpur.

1-Guddu 2-Akash 3-Shankar 8 3

1-Ajay 2- Vijay 3-Amit 7 3

1-Manish 8 1

Avon Apna Skool

(B.K)

1-Niranjan 7 1

Vishnu Apna Skool

(B.K)

1-Rahul 7 1 Rama Dental

1-Umashankar 8 1 Ankit Apna Skool (B.K) Pandit Ramkumar

Vidyapeet Inter College, Chaubeypur,

Kanpur.

1-Ajay 2-Kanhiya 8 2

Tamsaha Apna Skool 1-Kishan 7 1

1-Sanni 2- Suraj 6 2 Tamsaha Apna Skool

1- Soni 9 1 Gol Chauraha Apna Skool

Ashok Vidhya Mandir, Rawatpur, Kanpur

1-Vishal 9 1 Jarauli Sardar Patel Academy,

Jarauli, Kanpur.

Apna Skool Newsletter – Appendices i i i May – August 2013

Appendix C – Education continuity in native villages

In order to facilitate the process, our co-ordinator Shri B N Sharma visited Hameerpur District

villages (22 – 27 July) and Shri L K Shukla visited villages in Bihar (23 -29 July). In the spirit of

the Right to Education (RTE) law, admissions into village schools should be guaranteed and our

coordinators work to ensure that this right is not abrogated for migrant workers children in their

native villages. In addition, support, in the form of textbooks and stationary is also provided

where needed. Below is the list of children that were enrolled in their local villages:

Hameerpur District, UP (40 villages)

Village - Maudaha, Hameerpur - 4

Name of Student Class 1- Abhilasha; 2- Sita 2

1-Durvesh; 2-Pavan 1

Village- Atraiyadera, Hameerpur - 8

Name of Student Class 1-Rajkumar 6

1- Bhagvandas 5

1- Rajani 3

1-Satyavati 2

1-Ramdas; 2- Brajesh; 3- Arun; 4- Sapna

1

Village- Artra, Hameerpur - 4

Name of Student Class 1- Priyanka 6

1- Daya Shankar 5

1- Ankit; 2-Shiv Shankar 2

Village- Vivar, Hameerpur - 4

Name of Student Class

1- Rachana 3

1-Khusboo; 2-Gudiya; 3- Manoj 2

Village- Koda, Jahanabad (Fatehpur) – 4

Name of Student Class

1- Ajay 4

1- Anjali 3

1- Raja; 2-Sunil 2

Village- Bharua, Sumerpur – 2

Name of Student Class 1- Suraj 2

1-Ajay 1

Interior Bihar (26 villages)

Village –Tilari, Bihar

5 children of Kalra 1 Apna Skool admitted in

Tilari Govt Primary School

Village –Madva, Bihar

5 children of Kalra 2 Apna Skool admitted in

Madva Primary School.

Village –Simariya, Bihar 7 children of Kalra 1 Apna Skool enrolled in

Simariya Primary School and 5 children of Kalra

2 Apna Skool were enrolled in a Church run

School near Simariya village.

Village –Pali, Bihar

12 children of Vishnu Apna Skool were admitted

in Pali primary School

Village –Gola Barraji, Bihar 2 children got admitted in the Primary School of

the village and

Village –Jamugawa, Gaya, Bihar

4 children got enrolled in the local Primary

School.

Apna Skool Newsletter – Appendices i v May – August 2013

Appendix D – Successful UP Board Exam graduations

CLASS 10th - Dhamikheda Apna Skool

1. Soniya

2. Rahul

3. Tarranum

Panki Apna Skool

4. Sanjana

CLASS 12th - Dhamikheda Apna Skool

5. Geeta

6. Sahil

7. Rajani

Appendix E – Centres that remain open year-round

1. Dhamikheda Apna Skool

2. Panki Apna Skool

3. Panki Padhav Apna Skool

4. Tatiyaganj Apna Skool

5. Kalra –III Apna Skool

6. Tamsaha Apna Skool