Brussels, Brussels, Brussels,

Brussels, Brussels, Brussels,

It is highly condemnable. Can’t find the strongest word to express my anger. This attack is not only attack on Brussels but against the whole humanity.  The world need to address this- sooner the better. 

23/03/2016

School Upgradation- The only way to ensure 8 years of schooling to all children under RTE

School Upgradation- The only way to ensure 8 years of schooling to all children under RTE

 [Note: this article is in process... ]

Some Important Facts before I start writing  Sample Size •      Number of villages covered= 151 •      Number of blocks= 21 •      Number of districts= 6 •      Number of Primary Schools= 101 •      Number of Upper Primary Schools= 39 •      Total Schools under RTE= 140 •      Teachers Appointed under RTE in 2015-16= 95 •      Total teachers in 140 schools= 509 •      Children in the age group of 6-14 years= 24424 [M- 12911 + F- 11513] •      Children (6-14 yrs) in school= 22223 [M- 11743 + F- 10480] •      Children (6-14 yrs) out of school= 2201 [ M- 1168 + F-1033] •      9 % children (6-14 yr) are out of school. •        •      Children in the age group of 14-18 years=  9500 [M- 5181+ F- 4368] •      Children (14-18 yrs) in school=  5212 [M- 2873 + F- 2339] •      Children (14-18 yrs) out of school= 4288 [ M- 2308 + F-1980] •      45 % Children (14-18 yr) are out of school. •      13 % Children dropped out of school after 5th standard. 1482 passed primary school but only 1285 continued in 6th Standard. 197 left school. •      34 % Children dropped out after 8th standard. 916 passed but only 600 got admission in 9th. 316 left school. Data from one partner is missing in it. •      31 % Children dropped out after 10th.   555 passed but only 379 continued in 11th. 176 left school. Note:  These are primary data collected by activists working in these 151 villages. About

There is a basic flaw in the government approach to ensure compliance of RTE (The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009) by ensuring 8 years of education to children in the age group of 6-14 years. 

Some Facts & thoughts to be used in this article.

“”He further said that a critical appraisal of the functioning of the Right to Education reveals that large gaps exist in its implementation including the quality of education being provided; the high number of drop-outs and out of school children and the absence of equity in education. The Vice President said that quantity, quality and equality are the three sides of the triangle required to ensure Right to Education. The decline in State funding in the key social sector programmes, including education, is of particular concern, he added.:  

On 31 March 2016, we will mark six years of the coming into force of the Right to Education. An audit is therefore appropriate, particularly to locate deficiencies that exist, and chart out a course for the future.

One of the most stringent criticisms of the RTE has been the quality of education being provided. The Global Monitoring Report 2012 ranked India a low 102 out of the 120 countries on the Education for All (EFA) Development Index, based on progress in universal primary education, adult literacy, gender parity and the quality of education. Some surveys have revealed that while enrolment in elementary education in our country has increased, there has been a decline in the education outcomes, with abilities in reading, writing and other comprehensive skills deteriorating among children between the ages of 6 and 14. For instance, only a fourth of all children in standard III could read a standard II text fluently, a drop of more than 5% over five years, according to the 2014 Annual Status Report on Education Report (ASER). About Rs 1,15,625 crore ($17.7 billion) has been spent on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)—the national programme for universal elementary education and a core element for implementing the RTE—over the last five years, so the decline in the quality of learning is particularly disturbing. Low learning and falling quality of education imparted to children has grave implications for the future of our society and the country. This should be a cause for serious concern to the government.””

Thinking My Mother on International Women's Day

Ammi never went to any school (formal or non-formal) but she ensured that her children get the best schooling in the world.

I went to Government Primary School in my village but there were no option after 5th standard. Either you leave village and pursue education or enroll in the list of dropout children.  Abba (himself dropped out after 3rd standard) went to  Calcutta (now Kolkata) and started working at Keshoram Cotton Mill. To make the story short, he got the idea of sending me to Aligarh.  I cleared the entrance test and got admission in Minto Circle School, AMU, Aligarh.

Why I am thinking about it and my Ammi? She learnt how to read & write when she was in her 40s or 50s. She learnt basic language along with taking care of household chores and other works.

There was no phone at that time. The only way to contact my parents was throuhg post office services. Every week I used to write letter and expect the same from home. My letters were full of reporting- school, food, play and hostel lives. There was double problem to Ammi. Her only son was not only living about 800 KM away from home but also living alone in hostel. Abba was in Kolkata and Ammi in the village, Kataila.  So every Sunday I would write letter to her but she could not read it. She had to take the letter to so many people before she get to know that her son is doing fine. Writing letter on her behalf was even more difficult task. No one had time for this.

One day I was coming from dinning hall after the lunch. Somebody told that I there is letter for me. I opened the envelop and read that letter several times. That letter was written by Ammi. In a basic langue, she conveyed the message and I got it. I literally cried that day. I still have that letter.

I love you Ammi and I am so proud of you.

Reg
Shaheen
08/03/2016

Aazadi in India

It was a delight to watch Kanhaiya last night speaking at Admin Block in JNU about freedom in India (not from India ).

The ideological positioning and ,some may call, Utopian world to demand freedom from  from poverty, illiteracy, corruption, feudalism, communalism and access to better education system and health care services are paths to make beautiful India which was dreamed by freedom fighters during the freedom struggle.

There may be differences of opinion but we must not pronounce judgement before the judgment by the honorable court. 

When Rule of Law and logic take back seat, then fringe elements of every section of the society try to occupy the driving seat, take the Constitution in their own hands and start passing judgment based on their narrow and parochial thinking. When everyone except the court start passing judgment and executing them also, then this is the sign of beginning of those rules which destroyed many countries and they are still not learning it. 

We must stand by Rule of Law, Stand by Constitution of India and allow the court to decide on the merit of the case. 

Ever second child in India is malnourished and we do not have plan to address this issue. If we do not recognize this menace, then 30 to 35 years down the line (when these children become adult) our nation will have highest number of youth but with lowest rate of production or contributing to socio- economic activities of the country. No one is talking about children in the age group of 0-6 years, the most critical age for development of human body- physical, emotional and mental.  These children should have fundamental rights for nutritional support, pre-schooling and access to health care services specailly pediatricians.