Enrolling Irula and Narikurava children in Sarva Siksha Abiyan (government) schools: Parents realize the importance of education – Tamil Nadu

R. Arivanantham, The Hindu, Krishnagiri, January 5, 2011

The Sarva Siksha Abiyan (SSA) has been taking all efforts to improve the standard of education of the less privileged Narikuravas and Irulas in the district. Among the 10 blocks in the district, non-enrolment these people in schools is predominant in Thaly, Kelamangalam, Shoolagiri, Hosur and Uthangarai adjoining the reserve forests. The composition of the Irula children in the Residential Bridge Course (RBC) centres is about 30 per cent. The SSA wing, headed by M. Baskaran, Chief Education Officer, is running about 37 RBCs and 56 non-RBC centres across the district. The total strength of the 37 RBCs in the district is 1,850 and that of non-RBCs 800. […]

K. Vijaya, whose two children are studying at a RBC centre at Kariasandiram said: “We want our children to pursue good education with the help of the government and let them lead a respectful life. If they become literate, it will help our community to pursue good education”.

K. Sudhir, who has studied up to Class IX has set up a petty shop at the Narikurava colony in Kariasandiram.

F. Sujita, a teacher at the RBC for Irulas at Thottegoundampalli said they enrolled children from Ramanthotti, Sigaralapalli gate and surrounding villages. She said though the parents initially resisted the thought of sending their children to schools, later with some orientation, realised the importance of education and sent their wards to the RBC.

S. Selvam, a teacher at the RBC for Narikuravas told The Hindu that the children showed considerable progress.

District Collector V. Arun Roy, who made a surprise visit to the Kariasandiram RBC recently, expressed happiness with the progress of the students.

Source: SSA’s efforts to bring about sea change among Narikurava, Irula children – The Hindu
Address : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article1034217.ece
Date Visited: Wed Jul 24 2013 17:58:21 GMT+0200 (CEST)

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is Government of India’s flagship programme for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, as mandated by 86th amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory Education to the Children of 6-14 years age group, a Fundamental Right.

SSA is being implemented in partnership with State Governments to cover the entire country and address the needs of 192 million children in 1.1 million habitations.

The programme seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant and school improvement grants.

Existing schools with inadequate teacher strength are provided with additional teachers, while the capacity of existing teachers is being strengthened by extensive training, grants for developing teaching-learning materials and strengthening of the academic support structure at a cluster, block and district level.

SSA seeks to provide quality elementary education including life skills. SSA has a special focus on girl’s education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide computer education to bridge the digital divide.

Source: Portal
Address : http://www.ssa.nic.in/
Date Visited: Wed Jul 24 2013 18:06:44 GMT+0200 (CEST)

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