We have often seen that most children studying in government schools face tough odds in their pursuit of education. Having been to different villages and schools, I saw that many students don’t have access to school uniforms and books. Students want to study, but the resources stay inaccessible.
Independence Day celebrations were in full-swing in Shahid Subhash Chandra Adarsh High School Gram Pahadsar in Rajgarh, a former princely state in Madhya Pradesh. The parade was started by a young, energetic and passionate school student. He wasn’t wearing shoes. After the parade, when I spoke to him, he told me how he aspired to be an army officer.
Some of us from the Piramal Foundation for Education and Leadership (PFEL) conducted a research study in four villages under Churu district in Rajasthan where more than 500 students participated. The research delved into their socio-economic status, hobbies, future goals, and so on.
The study brought out the fact that the students were not able to balance their personal and school life. The research highlighted how most students were unable to attend a full day of classes. They would go for two or three hours of classes as they had to help complete household chores, feed cattle or other such activities. It was also observed that difficulties due to linguistic differences were prevalent, especially among students belonging to rural communities who spoke a different regional language.
When we visited a government school in Rajgarh’s Mundital, they observed that boys would step out while the girls would stay home. Although, it was very heartening to see how many students, in the aspiration study forms that were distributed, mentioned their wish to pursue higher education.
This study took into consideration the living standard, socio-economic status, and educational levels of those who were a part of the research process. It was designed to facilitate students’ healthy growth cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically. This research also highlighted the fact that girls with access to education have a more profound and positive influence on the well-being of society in terms of health, economics, and social justice.
PFEL has been involved in interventions in schools in Rajgarh and Churu, among other areas. The team with the help of a cadre of highly-motivated young volunteers, work to improve the quality of life, especially education, in villages.
These have been some milestones for us, and we wish to further our impact in the years to come.
