Adolescents
Supplementary Education
The Problem
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As far as education is concerned, lack of infrastructure,
problems in the teaching-learning process and parental attitude are the major factors behind school drop-out and low levels of literacy in Balangir (Odisha), one of the most underdeveloped districts in India. As per the 2014 Aser Report, in the district only 49% of the children enrolled in standards III-V can read a standard. I level text or more and only 26.5% of the children enrolled in std. III-V can do subtraction or more. In 2014, with the objective of improving the learning levels of the children and the quality of education delivered in schools, Patang launched the Supplementary Education program. The target is school children between the age of 9 and 14
years from rural government-run educational institutions in 15 villages of the Balangir district.
Our Strategy
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Involvement and leadership building of young people at a community level through volunteerism
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Academic support through project and activity-based learning
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Creation and distribution of Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs)
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Promotion of libraries in schools
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Science, Language, Maths and Social Science hubs
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Life skills education sessions
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Empowerment of School Management Committees (SMCs)
Impact
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Involvement and leadership building of young people at a community level through volunteerism
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Academic support through project and activity-based learning
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Creation and distribution of Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs)
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Promotion of libraries in schools
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Science, Language, Maths and Social Science hubs
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Life skills education sessions
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Empowerment of School Management Committees (SMCs)
Vidya Utkarsh
The Problem
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Access to school and quality education is a distant reality for many children in the Bargarh district. Even though the overall literacy is around 62%, more than 30% of class V children do not know the basics of Odia, Maths and English. As per Patang’s experience, the factors behind the current state of education in the district include but are not limited to:
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Gaps in students-teacher ratio
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Irregularity in and low levels of students’ attendance
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Unavailability of learning spaces
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Poor school infrastructure
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Inactivity of School Management Committee
Given the above observations, Patang has implemented the Vidya Utkarsh pilot program with the goal of improving school-going children learning levels and the quality of education delivered in school.
Impact
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Dramatic improvement in students’ learning levels
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Strengthened ties with all stakeholders including teachers, District Project Coordinator, District Education officer, Cluster Resource Center Coordinator, Block Education Officer, School, Management Committee and the local community
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Improved teaching-learning process
Our Strategy
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Students’ engagement through curricular and co-curricular activities to motivate children towards learning such as plays, music, arts and crafts, learning festivals and storytelling.
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Capacity building of School Management Committees
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Training of teachers
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Partnership with local government bodies
Multilingual Education
The Problem
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The causes behind poor scholastic performance are
numerous; however, several studies have shown how the language barrier should be held as a major factor in student’s academic failure. In Odisha, this is particularly true for tribal children whose dropout rates are higher compared to other categories. One of the crucial factors in this scenario is the use of Odia language, which is not the mother tongue of tribal children, as medium of instruction. Articles 29(1), 46 and 350 A of the Indian constitution emphasize the importance of imparting education in one’s mother tongue. The National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005) and the 2009 Right to Education Act support the cause of multilingual education (MLE). At a state level, in 2006 Odisha launched a Multilingual Education program to extend the provision of mother tongue -based education to the tribal children of the state. However, there is still an urgent need to improve the children’s learning process as per the provisions of the NCF and the Odisha State Curriculum Framework but also to increase the efforts of implementation of the MLE policy promoted by the Odisha state. Keeping the above in mind, Patang has
launched a mother tongue-based multilingual education program with the following objectives:
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Improve the learning levels of children at elementary level.
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Campaign toward a complete implementation of the Odisha multilingual education policy.
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Increase community participation in schools’ development and learning process of children.
Our Strategy
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Set up of MLE learning centers on the territory
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Involvement of the community to create awareness on the importance of MLE
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Partnership with teachers and schools’ administration bodies
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Children engagement through motivational and educational activities based on the students’ cultural background and the local environment
Squirrel
The Problem
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In the backdrop of emerging development contradictions and socio-economic inequalities, the role that young people can play through volunteerism is crucial.
Thanks to its experience working with youth, Patang observed that even though young people were interested in volunteering and contributing to their community, they were not able to do so because of a lack of platforms, support or recognition for their efforts. The Squirrel program was launched by Patang in 2008 to encourage young people (18-25 years) to volunteer in their own communities for a period of three months. The Squirrel volunteers are responsible for designing and implementing projects on issues related to education and health and nutrition.
This program helps young people to develop soft and hard skills and it offers them a nominal financial support, guidance, public recognition and the opportunity to interact with other likeminded people.
Our Strategy
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Development of young people’s personality through meetings and workshops on self-awareness, communication and leadership skills
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Promotion of volunteerism among young people
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Building of partnerships with organization across the country and strengthening of ties with local institutions
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Advocacy for youth-led social action
Impact
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Squirrel volunteers demonstrated leadership in addressing their community issues and inspired other people to do the same.
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Increased interest in the communities Patang works with to highlight and address child rights and health-related issues.
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Strengthened ties between the Squirrel volunteers and members of the local
administration.
