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Ekal educates eight lakh tribal children
The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI) has created a record of sorts by providing free education to nearly eight lakh tribal children spread across over 26,000 villages. Headed by Essel Group Chairman Subhash Chandra, the Foundation aims to eradicate illiteracy from tribal India by 2011.
The movement, said to be the biggest of its kind in the country is supported by thousands of volunteers who believe in the power of education to help uplift rural India.
Ekal Vidyalayas or one teacher schools have been functioning for many years now all over the country in remote areas where the tribal and other deprived section live. A formal education is unattractive to these children because: they must travel great distances to attend school; school hours interfere with the children's family responsibilities; the children do not have the funds for uniforms and books; neither the teachers nor the curriculum give due consideration to their needs and life experience.
On the other hand, Ekal Vidyalaya has designed a non-formal education programme customised to meet the needs of the children, with the active involvement of the local village people in the setting up of the school, the selection of the teacher, and the adaptation of the curriculum and schedule.
Conventional subjects such as history, geography, science, and literature have little value in the lives of many rural and tribal children. They struggle to make ends meet in an agrarian economy. Often, they speak a local dialect far removed from the state or national language. To kindle an interest in education and to give due deference to their local customs and traditions, Ekal Vidyalaya commences with instruction in the local dialect.
Classes are scheduled to meet the needs of the village children and are often adapted depending on the season and harvest schedule. In addition, the school curriculum is tailored to teach the children basic literacy and life skills to help them develop self-confidence and succeed in rural occupations or pursue higher education.
As Ekal Vidyalaya teachers are recruited from the local community, they are friendly faces, familiar with the village children, traditions and customs. The teachers generally play the role of an elder brother or sister. They play, sing, educate, and equip the children through non-formal education.
The movement has gathered momentum over the years and today not only provides basic education but is also involved in providing health care education, development education and empowerment education to empower the deprived section of the society.
The Foundation, which is supported by philanthropists from India and abroad, plans to reach an additional 4,000 villages this year. All it takes to sponsor a school for an entire year is just Rs 16,000. For details visit: www.ekalindia.org
