Strengthening Education in Rural Panchayat Schools

1. Strengthening Education in Rural Panchayat Schools Kalanjiyam Trust Chennai Field office: Kalpat Village, Kancheepuram District Kalanjiyam is a Registered Trust under Indian Trust Act with 80G, 12A and FCRA www.kalanjiyam.org

2. Who we are Kalanjiyam was established in 2006 by a group of socially minded individuals to transform under privileged rural communities by developing a sustainable model for community development

3. Our Vision Kalanjiyam envisions a energized and empowered community that can take part in its own development, is able to mobilize and organize itself, and take actions to ensure quality education, improved health and overall well-being of all its members

4. Empowering communities & creating healthier future generations Community Development Framework Skill enhancement for better livelihoods Continuous feedback, monitoring & evaluation for

5. Kalanjiyam Coverage • Villages in Kacheepuram and Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu with about 15,000 population • Beneficiaries include • 35 Village communities • 17 Government Panchayat Union Schools with over 2000 school children from primary to 12th standard • An estimated 1500 young people in these villages

6. Underlying Principles • Strengthening rural Panchayat schools ensures the development of rural villages • Education for all - ensuring that all children complete up to high school • Strengthening primary education ensures reduction in drop outs in upper primary /high school years • Improving education status provides the foundation for community development

7. Strengthen Rural Panchayat Schools • Ensuring 100% enrollment in school • Creating an enabling school environment • Tables / benches & mats for seating • Fans and lighting • School bell and audio equipment • Beautification of school

9. Computer education for children • Kalanjiyam appointed computer teacher

10. Providing all rounded education • Physical education • Comprehensive play materials for after school play time • Extra-curricular classes • Music for improving mental abilities • Yoga for improving concentration • Drawing for hand skills

12. Bringing focus on children’s health • Nutrition supplementation • Vegetables / Fruits • Nutritious mixture or ‘sathu mavu’ • Health card for free health care • For addressing minor ailments in a timely manner • Preventing local procurement of medicines • Changing behaviors that affect health • Personal and common hygiene • Use of slippers

14. Ensuring Upper primary and Higher education • Strategies for strengthening students • Provide educational aides: Dictionaries and School Atlas for 6th onwards • Special program for life skills • Motivate students to completion of high school • Supporting after school special classes • Scholarship program for scoring 80% or more • Supporting students with socio-economic disadvantage with education aid

15. Addressing Drop out factors • Provision of free school van service to ensure completion of middle and high school • Providing for clean and sustainable water supply for washing and drinking • Construction / renovation and maintenance of hygiene facilities in schools

17. Outcomes in 10th Standard

18. Changes and Outcomes • Increasing proportion of students in primary, middle and high school are going to school with increasing regularity • Reduction in school drop out rates • Improved learning outcomes in primary school • Community is more engaged in improving village Panchayat School