Navsarjan Trust Schools Gujarat

1. Navsarjan Trust SchoolsGujarat Maulik Nagri February 2014

2. Agenda • Current Update • 2013-2014 Proposal • Background • Our Involvement • Student Count • Observations during May 2013 site visit

3. Current Update (1/2) • Martinbhai suggested no changes for the operating budget for 2013-2014 presented earlier are expected. • Martinbhai stated no changes in student count from the beginning of 2013-2014 (1 student left because of health reasons). This is important because increasing students' fees may have led to students dropping off. • Martinbhai is confident that more than 240 students can be enrolled in 2014-2015 • Students, parents and community are more amenable to the idea of food subsidy. At a parent teacher meeting in January 2014, Navsarjan shared accounts and financial data with the parents. Martinbhai stated sharing these details resulted in positive feedback from parents. • Navsarjan school held science exhibition and cultural and theatrical programs in 11 villages in Patan district of Gujarat. The village people paid for the program costs. Martinbhai cited these programs enhance awareness and act as a recruiting tool for children.

4. Current Update (2/2) • Navsarjan has started evaluating all students monthly in 7 subjects. These evaluations are publicized to all students and teachers. • Navsarjan also plans to put in place a teacher evaluation program starting 2014-2015. • Navsarjan also informed that a major donor agency is dropping off in 2014-2015. • Navsarjan continues to promote Chhotte Bhim Drama competition, where children enact a key event from a great dignitary's life. Navsarjan has been promoting greater participation involving with with government schools and people of all castes participating in this event. Martinbhai stated about 5000 people in over 20 villages enjoyed the semi-finals of this competition. He also stated that the village community paid for the event costs. • RTE Compliance check underway

5. Brochure Translation • Most children do not know how to read and write when they graduate out of grade 4 in government school, because of government policy to graduate all children through grade 8 • Monthly cost of education Rs 1,650 (including Rs 900 for food). Children are charged Rs 850 monthly (including Rs 750 for food) • School amenities include: Science lab, computer lab, sports, current affairs news, entire day of learning, exercise, nutritious food • Education includes: stress on ability to express oneself, environmental knowledge, vocational knowledge • Daily schedule for 6 am to 9 pm that includes: classes, exercise, meal times, study time, etc.

6. 2013-2014 Proposal FOR CURRENT DISCUSSION • 2nd semi-annual installment of INR 400,000 or ~$6,550 • Change basis to funding teachers’ payroll in 2013-2014 vs. giving scholarships for female and other under-privileged children in prior years • Now, students pay ~80%-85% of direct food expenses. So, scholarships may not be very effective in increasing enrollment. • We should continue to monitor student specially female students. • Our proposal: Annual installment of INR 800,000 or ~$13,100 • Covers 42% of payroll costs of teachers and staff • Navsarjan has highlighted turnover in experienced teachers as a key challenge • Navsarjan cited ~50% lower payroll at its schools vs. government schools as a major reason for teacher turnover • Historically, Navsarjan teachers are from local communities and know families and motivate children to join Navsarjan schools.

7. Background • Navsarjan founded in 1989 • 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?p=840

8. Our Involvement • Recommend change in funding basis in 2013-2014: To funding teacher salaries • Prior funding basis: 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 visits in April 2007, January 2009, May 2010, May 2012, and May 2013 • Partner in “Quality of Education” and “NREGA”

9. 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

10. 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

11. Conversation with Navsarjan’s Founder around September 2013 (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

12. Conversation with Navsarjan’s Founder around September 2013 (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

13. Site Visit Pictures 2013-2014

14. Site Visit Pictures 2013-2014

15. THANK YOU