1. Promoting Equity & Inclusion for Dalit Children in Education Addressing Equity Issues in Education CSEI 31st Jan 2014

2. Equity in Education Recognizes and specifically names the excluded, marginalized, vulnerable, at risk groups/individuals Recognizes the historical exclusions, exploitation, deprivations Tracks current discrimination, inequality, inequity Ensures that identity or characteristics do not obstruct equality of educational opportunities or aspirations.

3. Educational Exclusion of Dalit Children Historical, Rooted in beliefs and traditions Rooted in exclusion and exploitation Family lacks resources, gets disheartened when education does not translate to employment and economic mobility Inadequate academic support or environment in the home/community Unequal provisions by state State provisions do not match with needs, deprivations

4. Multi-pronged Strategy Needed Needs institutional systemic changes in policy, practice and resources. Engaging children and nurturing aspirations Supporting youth to move ahead in own education and support children’s education Build confidence in parents on the long- term benefits, on dignity, self image through education Build linkages with other networks

5. Children 1- Articulating barriers as HR Violations Facilitate groups of children to articulate barriers experienced in education as human rights violations – child labour, early marriage, discrimination in schools, non-teaching, seated at back, corporal punishment.. Promoted puppetry as medium to articulate and present – non-threatening, not personalized, opportunity to change

6. Children 2 – Promoting Inclusion Environment - KSM All are included All are winners Cooperation and collaboration Experience equality in relating to others

7. Children 3- Assessing capability to learn Out of school children – Assess capability and interest to learn through 10 indicators Learning Indicators 1- Observe/Reading /writing 2-Expression 3-Curiosity 4- Creativity 5- logic 6- Concentration 7- Confidence 8-Leadership 9-INterpersonal Intelligence 10- Social Awareness

8. Children 4 – experiential education Taking Learner Centric approach Starting from where the learner is Shift from zero sum/deficit mindset to win-win approach Ambedkar saw the power of Experiential Learning when he came across John Dewey’s views on Experiential Learning Focus on reflection and critical thinking

9. Children 5 – Education Resource Centre Place of meeting and exchange Place to expand self – others

10. Children 6 - network 9 is mine linkage New York – UN – Poonam -

11. Educated Youth 1 - Build confidence and dignity – aspiration to resume own studies & development Engage in education related matters in community, with children Network with other youth forums Promote new skills – KSM, social skills, social mobilisation, video volunteers, advocacy

12. Educated youth 2 - BASF A platform to come together, move ahead

13. Community Led Organisations (CLOs) Found CLOs to be concerned and effective to promote and influence in education (TS) Have continued presence and influence in community, often the most educated there Community looks to them for information, guidance and support Need to build confidence and skill to engage in education, with schools, with administration, with education networks/campaigns.

14. Community Engagement Building confidence in community – shiksha samman divas – recognizing achievements, interest, participation of children and adults in community Link educated role models with the community in celebration and motivation Encourage to participate in schools – SMCs Contribute back

15. System Changes Inclusion actions in schools Institutional spaces for inclusion in schools – games, human rights education Institutional spaces to promote leadership of marginalized children in school – social justice in Bal Sansads, Meena Manches Equity forums in schools/blocks

16. System changes Social welfare hostels Scholarships including post matric scholarships SCSP-TSP budgets Research and study on identity and sub identity

17. Ways Forward Scale up the engagement with CLOs across states and across social groups to create a critical mass. Build up an Equity Working Group in Education Process of developing Equity Indicators and Equity Audits in Education Modules for teacher trainings ‘Zero Discrimination in Education’ campaign

18. Thank You