GRSV Sevakendra Jan-Jun 2012 Report

1. GRSV SevakendraJan-Jun 2012 Report Primary Steward: Koussalya

2. Project Brief • Primary School Program – Stds 1-6th • Last funding amount – INR 281174 • Next fund request – INR 232800

3. Updates • Number of currently enrolled students – 80 • Number of drop outs in last 6 months – 0 The parents of over 15 students from distance villages did not admit their children and 5 students from last year took admission in a nearby public school as we could not arrange transport. If we can provide transport, many more parents will admit their children in our School • Number of new children added to the schools in the last 6 months: 12 • Number of boys : 60 • Number of girls : 20

4. Updates Contd • Number of teachers:14 [ Teacher-in Charge: 1; Full Time: 4; Part time : 4; Collateral: 4 ( Science, Computer, Dance, Music)]. Others: Accountant:1; Tiffin Manager: 1; Janitor – 1 [Employees salary come from Funds provided by Asha for Education, ASTI (asti1.org ), and RKVM (rkvm.org ). ] • School timings: 11 AM to 3:50 PM; during Summer: from 6:30 AM to 12 noon ( for 2 months). In addition, the students with aptitudes for dance and/or music, spend 1:30 min for Dance and Vocal Music, 3 days a week. • School days: Mondays through Saturdays, except Summer holidays for 2 weeks (in May- April), Puja Holidays for 2 weeks( in October- November), and Government declared Holidays.

5. Attendance • Over all school attendance percentage : Between January and mid-May average about 85%, but varies between 75 to 100%; students , specially in 1 st and 2nd grades, coming from 3 to 4 Km distance, have low attendance. The attendance can be increased by providing:  • INCENTIVE: From July 1, 2012 we plan to start an incentive program: 3 students in each class with 95% + attendance will get prizes . • Teachers visit to the Parents at their house and discuss the benefits of good attendance. • Arrange TRANSPORT FACILITY for students coming from LONG DISTANCE by introducing a Motorized Van (will cost about Rs. 54,000/-). This method is being used by many private schools in the nearby towns to carry students from distance. By funding this item, Asha can help us to provide assurance to the parents that we will provide transport for the students coming from long distance. It will also help in reducing the time lost by the students walking on the road and getting tired ( which reduces effectiveness for home work in the evening).

6. Progress • Students Progress: - Higher standard of Syllabus - In the class they are asked to respond to the question through the use of the chalk board to overcome the shyness. - In addition to academic program, they are exposed to several collateral programs. These are regarded as fun class to enjoy and relieve pressure of course work and exam. - The students are doing fairly well ; in the Short Test in March all students passed in grades 4, 5, and 6, one reason is they are in the program for longer time. • Teachers and Community Progress: • Due to delay in funding, teacher’s training postponed to later this year • Monthly parent-teacher conference is welcomed very much by parents • Teachers visit student homes and this seems to have impressed parents a lot

7. General Feedback • This is my own perception for which I left my job and now living with these people for 6 to 8 months of each year.: These are forgotten lands ( exist only in Map) with thousands and thousands of men, women and children ( exist only in VOTER LIST), who have very little hope ( ASHA) for a better future. The villagers say: Cursed Land and they are probably not wrong.  These remote villages around GRSVS have almost nothing that the citizen of an Independent Country normally deserve to have to make the lives little humane. Poor road system, no public transport, no doctor, no sanitation facilities, despicable infrastructures of public schools with teachers selected, not for their academic capability, but for political affiliation to ruling party ( CPM), a Village Panchayet system, with almost illiterates members, who with their political affiliation, siphoned the rural development funds, never visited by the elected political leaders and the administrators to asses the extent of deplorable situations of the villagers and the villages ( I have not seen ONE Political Leader or Government Officer during my stay in last 10 years in the area), and not even a NGO ( beside GRSVS) to improve the condition of the villagers. Aathese are the villages all over the country, where over 70% of population born, live and die. Now 'Asha for Education' , through GRSVS, has brought some HOPE ( ASHA), to provide the children of the villages a chance to have better Education and a better Future. The Parents of the students of JHS at GRSVS have started to believe that good things are to happen, that they never have dreamed. Even many of the villagers, who were initially very critical and pessimistic, have started supporting the program and started admitting their kids in the program. This is a very positive sign, a sign positive attitude of the villagers, a sign from ' Hoplessness to Hope : NIRASHA TO ASHA'; there is hope of worth living. This can be a mile stone in the effort of Asha Organization , trying to uplift the lives of the deprived.

8. Questions from Steward • Students Progress 1.  What do you mean by short test in march 2.  Can you send the average percentage score in each std? Due to heat wave and death because of heat stroke – schools are shut down as per Government announcement – these information will be provided ASAP • New budget: •  Support personnel was 30K in your projected budget presented along with 2011 proposal - now it is 31.2K why? a. Budget request in 2010 submitted project, for 2012:July-Dec = Rs. 30,000/- b. Budget request in 2011:6 months progress report for Jan-June = Rs. 31,200/- c. Budget request in 2012:6 months progress report for July-Dec. = Rs. 31,200/- The specific salary request for: Janitor: In 2010 tentative request ( a) was Rs. 1000/- month, assuming the cleaning of the class rooms and hallways can be done on alternate days. But we soon we realized that cleaning should be done daily. So we had to pay Rs.1200/- month. It remained Rs. 1200/- since 2012 January. Tiffin Manager: In 2010 the tentative request was Rs.1500/-month. But, in 2012 January we could not hire a person with some education at that amount. We are paying Rs. 2,000/- month (half a day ). Accountant/Librarian: In 2010 we tentaively requested Rs.2500/ month. But the person we have takes Rs. 2000/- month. Total: for 2012 July – December is: Rs. (1200 + 2000 + 2000) = 5,200/ month or Rs. 31,200/-for 6 months ( same as in 2012 January to June). 2.

9. Questions from Steward Contd… 2. Similarly educational supplies were 3K , now you are asking for 12K why? In 2010, Tentative request for 2012 : July-Dec was Rs. 3000/- . But in current budget, the request is Rs. 12,000/-. The main reason for this increase for is the costs of materials associated with the Alternative Program Classes ; Computers ( programs and parts to fix the donated computers: we have now 6 total ), Music and Dance ( Tapes, Notation books, Drums to accompany ). 3.  Can you explain how you arrived at the 43.8K for tiffin? Ans: Funds for 100 students for 6 months = 62.5K Funds for 70 students for 6 months = ( 62.5 / 100) x 70 = 43.75 or 43.8 K Followup => There are 80 students why is the above calculated only for 70? 4.  Initially proposed amount for student activities is 30K and now it is only 26K why? • The tentative amount was based on about 100 students, but the student number is 70. So the cost will be low; Tentatively Rs. 26,000/- in place of Rs. 30,000/- Same followup as 3)