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Little progress has been made in resolving local conflicts impacting the educational system in Beerbhum district, leading to the predominance of informal education. Uthnau is supporting children through non-formal education centers and hostel facilities, with ongoing challenges in operationalizing its formal school. Efforts are underway to provide tutorial support to students, address educational gaps, and secure funding for quality teaching. Despite hurdles, initiatives like ITI admissions and tutorial programs aim to enhance educational opportunities for underprivileged students.
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Mallarpur Uthnau Asha For Education – June 2023 Kunal Deb/Vish Viswanathan
Summary • Little to no progress on resolving local conflicts • Governmental school system in Beerbhum district largely not functional resulting in informal educational system in place. • Example - Ms. Sonamani Murmu and Sadi Hansda are actively operating free non-formal education centers in village Garia and Habrapahari, catering to chidren aged 4-9 years old. • Uthnau has a rented house in Mallarpur where 6 boys and 8 girls receive free hostel cum tutorial facilities for high school education. Mohan and Rocky are running this facility • Uthnau’s school (day care center + vocational training center) is still not operational and no target date • Uthnau earned INR 3 lakhs in the past financial year from its consultancies on urban farming and rainwater treatment projects. With these funds, Uthnau was able to pay the nominal honorariums to the four existing teachers. The costs to rent and one hired tutor were covered by mid-term support from Asha for Education. • Virtual Site visit completed on Thursday May 4, 2023 • Getting good teachers remains a challenge
Schools Update: 1) One female student, Rupali Tudu, from Mauj-owra, who successfully passed her higher secondary examination under the Higher Secondary Council of West Bengal in July 2022, has been admitted to an ITI (Industrial Training Institute) women’s college in Kolkata, where she is currently pursuing the Electronic Mechanic course. This course is expected to be completed in two years, and the institute has assured opportunities for campus placements. The cost towards the course is INR 2000 per month. 2) Due to Rohon Murmu and Amin Hembrom not finding a suitable learning environment in their previous school in Kolkata, Uthnau arranged for their transfer to Siuri, Birbhum. Currently, these twostudents are studying at Benimadhab High School in Siuri, and are preparing for their higher secondary examination in 2024. They require intensive tutorial support in English, Mathematics,Accountancy, and Business Administration. 3) The students who are receiving hostel support from Uthnau and studying in classes 7, 8, and 9 at Government- supported high schools in Mallarpur also feel the urgent need for quality tuition in English, Science, and Mathematics. There is also a pressing requirement for supplementary learning materials and books for their studies. 4) Uthnau has identified local school teachers who are willing to provide tutorial services to our students in Mallarpur. However, in order to ensure good quality tutorial support, Uthnau will need to make a significant financial commitment.
Background of ask • Sep 2022 funding given for 3 months as bridge • FCRA still valid • 2023 ask is Rs 17.156 lakhs
Virtual Site visit summary- May 4, 2023 • Met the students at Mallarpur – 10 of them ranging between class 5- 8, one in class 12 • Also met Rocky and Sadi in Habra Para • Mode of education is Santhali and Bengali, pre primary and primary 3-12 years old, some are 14 years old, 12 students in all. Parents support the children with food. Groups are mixed, so it is individual education at the end or smaller groups. Bring books from Government schools. • Struggling to go back to school and restart it • Trying to CSR support from CII etc, then will go some exposure to computers • There is a library they have with some books
Virtual Site visit summary (9/5/22) Asha participants: Geetha, Madan, Sridhar, Nimish, Sailaja There are three initiatives by Uthnau. 1) Pre-primary school 2) Primary program 3) After School program We saw two locations, one a house in Garia, Birbhum, where 22 students come after their school for additional instructions. Teacher's name is Shadi (sp?). She teaches Bengali, Math and reading. The other location we saw was in Mallarpur where there are 9 students with 2 instructors, Mohan and Rocky. Quality of education is not high - some of the senior children know how to read in English, but it is not clear if they understand well enough. Questions had to be translated back in Bengali for them to respond (such as Math questions). Difficult to get and retain good teachers in the villages. Network is poor in Garia which inhibits online education. Kunal Da will provide a plan for the school in September/October. He thinks it will take 3 months to open the school, targeting December for the reopening. He needs to get some better quality teachers else the children will not learn. Ruby Hembron, editor of Adibani, a local magazine/newspaper supports Uthnau. Madan asked a good question - why is Uthnau being targeted by local hooligans? No clear answer other than they perceive it to be a threat.
