+ Pratirodh Sansthan Bhadesar, Chittorgarh Residential School for Girls 2012 mid year progress report

+ Background Pratirodh Sansthan is working with Tribal community of Bhadesar district, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) since Its an offshoot of Prayas which has been actively advocating Tribal Rights since over few decades with diverse initiatives Tribal land rights Cast discrimination and Khat Andolan Women rights and SHG mobilization RTI and MNREGA Advocacy Food Rights Pratirodh Sanstan focuses primarily on girl education and women rights/awareness, with flagship project seeded through AfE-SV support in November 2008 The organization has philosophical roots in tribal rights movement, but, with a singular focus and belief in women being the change makers in the society

+ Objectives & Goals Uplift and Empower backward and marginalized tribes through education and awareness Prepare and motivate young girls as change makers, not only to empower but to influence the next generation of community! Bring awareness about education in the community with expectation that it will in turn lead to inquisitiveness and awareness in general – education is a big enabler! Motivation is to make children ecologically & socially aware and get some basic literacy, instead of attaining grades and class attendance Bridge the divide between the first generation learners and the government schools/programs Use self-paced/self-motivated learning techniques that is suitable to the environmental realities Leverage government schemes & programs and bring policy benefits to the community such programs are meant to Not to run a formal school but to act as a bridge for motivated children to get access to the government schools

+ Objectives & Goals Residential School for Girls was started in late 2008 with AfE-SV funding Employ alternate education, self-paced/self-motivated, learning method for first generation learners from tribal community Train girls to Grade-V equivalent level and enroll motivated students into Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya for Girls KGBV is a part of central government scheme under which residential higher secondary level schools are opened/operated across the country Make students socially & ecologically aware; and build strong long-term partnership with their communities/families Address rampant social issues e.g. child marriages, illiteracy through empowerment of girl child

+ KGBV Scheme Background KGBV is a GoI scheme under MHRD-HED to establish up to 750 residential higher secondary level schools, primarily targeted at elementary level in areas with predominantly SC/ST/OBC or minorities in general. Scheme is applicable for those identified under EBB where as per census data of 2001 the rural female literacy is below national average and gender gap in literacy is more than national average KGBV establishment and management is folded under SSA at district level and coordinated between MHRD, MTA, and MSJE departments Residential schools are setup in eligible areas where at least 50 girls predominantly from SC/ST and minority communities are available to study at the elementary or middle school level with education of such girls guaranteed up-to 10+ level NGO and other non-government/non-profit bodies are to be involved in running of the schools, with separate guidelines for corporate bodies to adopt the schools Out of 700 KGBV [technically] running today, none have been adopted

+ Project Background Residential school in Amarpura, Bhadesar Distt., Chittorgarh Rented facility in close vicinity of the village and tribal hamlets Has seating capacity for 200 children, with durable mud-reinforced floor built with help of students and local residents Large 40x30ft hall with a 35 cot capacity for children to sleep. Additional room for staff that has spillover capacity Two full-time residential female teachers, one cook/helper, and one coordinator (one of the project funders), and a watchwomen on premise The project has a full-time watchwomen – Meerabai. Watchwomen salary not formally included in approved budget from AfE-SV

+ Project Discussion Project uses alternate self-paced learning model based on methods and tools from Degantar Learning model is based on a mix of scheduled classes and self-paced group activities State curriculum is used for measuring and evaluation of learning level specifically to meet Grade-V requirement Teachers identify motivated students and coach them specifically for graduation and admission into KGRS program Formal evaluation and class structure along with self-paced model is critical to ensure transition into formal school environment Residential school model is not to isolate children from there home environment but to give them space for self exploration and group learning Environment of the school and pedagogy is to ensure preservation of the cultural and social engagement – language, ecology etc.

+ Journey so far … total enrolled students, 17 students admitted, and now attending KGBV, Nahargarh and Mungana since July students preparing for fifth grade examination in early carryover students and 24 new students, total of 58 students 26 students graduated and admitted in KGBV Nahargarh; no drop-offs yet carryover students and 20 new students, total of 68 students 16 students graduated and admitted in KGBV Nahargarh; 18 students dropped-off students enrolled 10 students graduated and enrolled in KGBV Nahagragh; 19 students drop-off

+ Project Discussion Students are organized into three basic groups based on learning level and competency Group-I: 13 students, 9-12 yo Hindi: State curriculum books along with workbooks for vocabulary & grammar etc. Math: Fifth grade state curriculum math; moderate level arithmetic, number tables; recognizing and adding/subtracting counts up-to 1crore English: Reading with comprehension, basic grammar and vocabulary Environment Studies: Learning about Ecology and local geography and climate, agriculture practices and local fauna. State curriculum books on geography etc.

+ Project Discussion Group-II: 15 students, 9-10 yo Hindi: Basic reading and writing skills, sentence & paragraph formation and basic grammar, along with moderate vocabulary Math: Number series, number tables from 2-15, and counting till 100; adding/subtracting till 100, multiplications and divisions. Utilizing Degantar workbooks and activity based learning aids English: Memorizing and writing alphabet series with meaning learning grade between 3-4 Degantar workbooks/material for language and math along with some state curriculum books Reusing some learning from Seva Mandir in building English comprehension using local idioms and foalk tunes to memorize specific words and their usage etc.

+ Project Discussion Group-III: 29 students, 8-9 yo Hindi: Alphabets recognition and word formation, learning around 60 word formations with meaning Math: Number recognition and writing up-to 100; basic additions and subtractions; use of flash cards and some activity learning aids English: Alphabet recognition (with cases) and some word recognitions, using flash cards etc. Learning level between grade 1-2. First generation learners that have never attended any school of any sort, and mostly engaged in daily household chores or herding goats and fetching water prior to attending this school

+ Appendix: Approved Budget 2012 ParticularsUnitRateBudget Total Human Resources Coordinator (salary)1x125, Teacher (salary)2x125, Mess staff (salary)2x123, Operations Stationary & material50x Books & Aids50x Health Care50x Food & Nutrition50x Toiletries & Sanitation50x Travel1x Water & Electricity1x Administrative Exposure Tour 50 (7days)1, Audit Fees 1x13, Total