Navsarjan Trust Schools Gujarat

1
Navsarjan Trust SchoolsGujarat

• Shivesh Kumar
• Vartika Kumar
• October 2013

2
Index

• Hartfords Chapter collaboration with Boston
  Chapter
• Project Background
• Our Involvement
• Student Count
• 2013-2014 Proposal
• Observations during May 2013 site visit

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Hartfords Chapter collaboration with Boston
Chapter

• Asha Hartford CT chapter is a relatively new
  chapter
• Key contacts Vartika Kumar, Shivesh Kumar
• Website http//www.ashanet.org/hartford/
• Asha Boston/MIT chapter is going to act as a
  mentor chapter
• Areas of collaboration include coaching, project
  review, training in Asha processes, and so on
• Initial collaboration on the Navsarjan project
• Asha Hartford CT chapter collaborated for
  Navsarjan in 2010
• For now, Asha Hartford CT chapter is going to
  rely on documentation and project review done by
  Asha Boston Chapter
• Initially, we recommend annual funding of 4,000
  going towards students cost for the food.

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Project Background

• Navsarjan founded in 1989
• Website www.navsarjan.org
• Goal provide quality education to Dalit children
  facing harsh discrimination in government schools
• 3 active schools near Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• Estimated food cost per child INR 900 per month
  in 2013-2014
• Student count at Navsarjan has dropped to 116 in
  2013-2014 due to change in policy where Navsarjan
  has decided to start charging students for food
• Historically, Navsarjan increased student count
  from 2007-2008 to 2011-2012, but now student
  count has reduced through 2013-2014
• Link http//www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view
  .php?p840

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Our Involvement

• Some involvement with Navsarjan in 2010
• Funding Navsarjan for the very first time
• Plan to piggyback on documentation and site visit
  report of Asha-Boston Chapter
• Recommend 2013-2014 funding basis towards teacher
  salaries
• Prior funding basis considered scholarship
  program to encourage enrollment of female
  students
• Parents willing to pay for boys education, but
  do not encourage their daughters for education
• Marriage for girls at an early age very common
• Site visit in May 2010
• Partner in Quality of Education and NREGA

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Student Count in 2013-2014

• Student count fell to 116 in 2013-2014 from 322
  in 2012-2013 from 400 in 2011-2012
• Drop in students due to change in policy where
  students pay food costs

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2013-2014 Proposal

• Basis to funding students cost for food
• Now, students pay 80-85 of direct food
  expenses. Previously students paid around 20 of
  the food expenses. This change has reduced the
  enrollment.
• So, subsidizing students cost for food is likely
  to increase future enrollment.
• Our proposal Annual installment of INR 250,000
  or 4,000
• Will help subsidize students cost for food.
• FOR CURRENT DISCUSSION
• 1st annual installment of INR 250,000 or 4,000

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Observations during May 2013 Site Visit

• Visited school at Katariya and interviewed
  teachers, students and parents
• Navsarjan residential schools do more with less
• 5 multi-functional rooms classroom during day
  lodge at night mess hall at other times in the
  day
• Human waste is re-used as fertilizer for gardens
• Schools are well-managed
• School management and school staff very motivated
• Katariya school generally clean and
  well-organized
• Students have a daily schedule and are taught
  essential life skills
• Cook and Caretaker live on premises
• Student interviews reveal confidence and
  enthusiasm in them
• Parent interviews reveal enthusiasm to send
  children to school

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Conversation with Navsarjans Founder (1/2)

• New philosophy that students pay for food
  expenses led to fall in 2013-2014 student count
• Consolidated teaching operations to a single
  location (Katariya)
• Plan to move teaching operations to students to
  other schools during 2013-2104
• Founder says that numbers show providing food at
  school to students is cheaper and more nutritious
  vs. providing food at home
• Founder shared that only 11 students came on the
  first day of school hoping Navsarjan will change
  its policy. When Navsarjan did not change its
  policy, many students returned increasing the
  count to 116
• Founder estimated that food costs INR 900-950
  per student per month, out of which students pay
  INR 750 per month
• Older philosophy of subsidizing expenses (food,
  education, and boarding) was not sustainable in
  the long-term
• Navsarjan had to periodically to dip into its
  general fund to fund the operating expenses of
  its residential schools
• Residential schools depend on a few large donors
  loss of one donor can imperil the operations of
  the residential schools
• Some key grants have fallen off (CORD) or will
  fall off (Tata Social Welfare Trust)
• Founder states that Navsarjan is committed to
  starting grades 9th and 10th in near future

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Conversation with Navsarjans Founder (2/2)

• Founder believes that student count will jump
  back in 2-3 years
• Founder shared experience at DSK (Dalit Shakti
  Kendra) vocational school suggests that raising
  fees coupled with better infrastructure brings
  more students in the long run
• Founder believes that the 2014-2015 student count
  will bounce back to 300
• Founder stressed the need for better
  infrastructure and teaching methods
• Better infrastructure more accommodation such as
  building a second story on modular rooms,
  creating sports complex in Katariya (track,
  kabaddi, volleyball) etc. using spare land at
  schools, already built science labs at schools
• Better teacher training
• Monthly student evaluation in key areas reading,
  comprehension, etc.
• Founder stated difficulty in hiring and retaining
  teachers
• Government schools pay teachers INR 18000 per
  month whereas Navsarjan pays INR 8000 per month
• Recently, some experienced and qualified teachers
  have left Navsarjan schools.
• Founder indicated strong need for raising teacher
  salaries

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Chotte Bhim Drama Competition Update

• Navsarjan changed the format in 2013-2104
• First round organized at village or town level
• Final round will be organized at one location
  rather than in phases
• Encouraged greater community participation
• children of all castes participated
• audience members included all castes
• community chipped in money for the drama
  competition at various locations

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2012-2013 Status Updates

• Completed 2nd floor in Sami School
• Big foreign grant rolling off in September 2012
• Plans for 2013-2014
• Hired on-site wardens for 2 schools
• Add 9th standard to all the 3 schools
• Build science labs in 3 schools
• Short-term Vocational Courses Bakery, Medical
  Assistant
• Focus on teacher training
• Long-Term Plans
• Build second floor at 2 other schools
• Add 10th standard to all 3 schools
• Focus on redesigning curriculum
• Construct a 4th school
• Plan to add vocational classes at Navsarjans
  vocational schools
• Potential collaboration with IIM-Ahmedabad
• Courses Bee Keeping, Growing Mushrooms, Papier
  mache, Creating Wooden Toys, Wormi-compost,
  Create furniture

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Site Visit Pictures 2013-2014
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Site Visit Pictures 2013-2014
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Site Visit Pictures 2011-2012
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Site Visit Pictures 2011-2012
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THANK YOU