A big step in the right direction

The Government schools in Khunti district are plagued with problems like non- functioning schools, poor school environment, para-teachers, (lacking required qualification and training to teach), inadequate facilities for secondary education, rampant teachers' absenteeism and high dropout rates coupled with the larger problem of poverty. The Trusts under the umbrella of Central India Initiative and through direct implementation under its associate organisation — Collectives for Integrated Livelihoods Initiatives (CInI) has been focusing on improving the quality education in primary as well as secondary schools. Since 2012-13, Remedial Coaching Centers (RCC) were integrated in the education programmes implemented by CInI, which supports high school students (Grades VIII, IX and X), across 10 high schools to clear their matriculation examination through academic support in core subjects of English, Maths and Science. These classes run for three hours, before the school time. Innovative teaching learning methods and materials, along with other required support is provided to the students and teachers. Besides, parents' meeting, SMC meetings and trainings are conducted to empower the community and generate in them an ownership to ensure quality of education in schools.

Among the 10 high schools, where Remedial Coaching Classes (RCC) are operational, Upgraded High School, Ganaloya of Khunti district is one such school, whose high school results has made the success of this initiative evident. The school was earlier a middle school (till Grade VIII) and was upgraded to a high school in the year 2009-10 (Grades IX and X were added). Though the grades were added, teachers to teach these grades were not appointed. Therefore, the teachers of middle schools had to take classes of the students enrolled in grades IX and X.

The Remedial Coaching Classes in this school was initiated from the academic session 2012-13. Since then the results of the matriculation exam under the state board has consistently improved over the years as highlighted in the table, alongside.

The result of the children enroled in Remedial Coaching Classes (shown in the table below), highlights the success of this intervention. The attendance of the students in these classes has been over 65 per cent, which is heartening.

The intervention is not only limited to teaching students; the RCC teachers and the CInI Field Supervisors regularly meet parents through home visits, conduct parents' meeting to showcase the progress of individual child and encourage them to support their children in education. Also, the trainings provided to the SMC (School Management Committee) members have helped them understand their roles to ensure quality of education. They pay visit to the schools to observe classroom processes, progress of the children and provide necessary support to the school. Mr. Sudama Mahto, President of SMC who visits the school regularly, says, "I have noticed that the RCC Assistant Teachers are punctual and use innovative pedagogy to teach the students. The matriculation results of the students have also improved because of their efforts. Community is now aware about the need of quality education. I thank the CInI team for their support and urge them to continue their good work."

The recognition of the field team and the community members' sincere efforts to achieve these results cannot go unnoticed. The success of the RCC initiative in the intervention schools has generated an awareness and interest among the Government District Education Officials and they have offered CInI to initiate work in 20 high schools of Khunti district, during school hour from 2015-16.