A teaching icon – Babar Ali

Social change in India has been on the rise in recent years, and here is another ‘Change Maker’. This wonderful boy called ‘Babar Ali’ is doing his bit to help his friends and villagers become literate. He has accepted the corrupt environment and carrying on his inspiring work. This is a story of the capability and willingness [...]

Right to Education bill passed

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education bill was passed by the Indian Parliament. Termed as ‘landmark’ by many, this bill promises free and compulsory education to children between 6 and 14 years old in a neighbourhood school. This will also be the first time in India that disabled children will be integrated [...]

Literacy programs to continue in five districts

The Central government has issued orders to continue literacy programmes under the continuing education scheme in Haveri, Mysore, Mandya, Bangalore city and Bidar districts of the state.
Representing Haveri in Karnataka, the District Adult Education Officer, said that the new ‘Jana Sakrata Abhiyana’ program aiming to train illiterates from the scheduled caste and scheduled [...]

School dropouts to benefit from Community Colleges

The concept of Community Colleges in India is relatively new. The first Community College in India is believed to be Pondicherry University Community College opened in 1995.  Community Colleges provide an alternative system of education to socially and economically backward students.  Skill development, easy access, and cost effectiveness are some of the highlights of Community [...]

Educating Street Children

Evidently, the most vulnerable section of the society, street children are forced to live and earn on the street. UNICEF estimates the number of street children worldwide to be between 100 million to 150 million, with 18 million of them in India. Due to poverty, these children work odd jobs to contribute to their family income. [...]

Closure to hit Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan hard, claim NGOs

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for all movement) was started by the Government of India in partnership with the State governments. Its aim is to provide elementary education to all children in the age group 6-14 years by 2010.  Under the ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’(SSA) , Alternative Innovation centres were opened across the state to bring out-of-school children [...]

Tutor in Mewat

Vinod Kumar Kanathia bank manager at Allahabad Bank leaves his job to spread education among women in the villages of Ferozepur Namak. The story of the grit and determination of Vinod and his ability to adapt his approach to the requirements of rural India makes a facinating and inspiring reading.

” Despite its proximity to [...]

Education index: Kerala loses top spot

Kerala has lost the number one position to Puducherry(earlier known as Pondicherry) in this year’s educational development index (EDI) for primary education. As per the index for 2007-08 prepared by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), Kerala is now at the second position. Lakshadweep, Delhi and Tamil Nadu follow it respectively. On the lower end, Bihar is ranked 35th and is [...]

Faculty crisis grips Assam elementary schools

Assam’s elementary education sector is facing an acute crisis with over 16,000 posts of teachers lying vacant in schools across the state. With elections around the corner, Dispur has initiated steps to expedite the recruitment processbut it appears to be a Herculean task, sources in the education department indicated today. The posts have been lying [...]

Reaching out to the grassroots

Chorodi Gram Panchayat, Vaddayarakoppa, sets an example to the rest of the state when it comes to self-help groups, explains Father Staney of the Shimoga Multipurpose Social Service Society (SMSSS). The Society was started ten years ago, has been co-ordinating with such SHGs. More women from the region than ever before are marching towards literacy, [...]