Netala trip report
K.S.Ramamurthy and K.C.Sundaram visited Netala School during 9-11 November 2011. This is the first visit of the SODEWS officials after the commencement of the current academic year (1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012).
Before proceeding to give a detailed report on several aspects of the school, a significantly noticeable aspect was the brilliant work done by C.V.Poornima, who within a short period of three months has improved the quality of the school academically and administratively. We expected to spend a lot of time to obtain data on several issues but were pleasantly surprised to note that these were already prepared in a basic format updated after the commencement of the new academic year. The significant contribution of Poornima was visibly seen in a phenomenal increase in student enrollment from 80 to 120 and the good impression of the local people having about the school.
Accounts
Upto September 30th 2011, the funding of the school was done by Aid India, Chennai and SODEWS has taken over from 1st October 2011. Periodical statement of accounts has been submitted to KKSF that will continue. School maintains two bank accounts - one for the funds made available by SODEWS and the other from collection of tuition fees and small donations. Accounts are well maintained and adeqaute proof have been given on cash and bank holdings.
Students and fee structure
There are a total number of 120 students of whom 83 are boys and 37 are girls. We observed that there are no students in 7th class as in the previous year the strength in the 6th class was too low to have admission in 7th class this year. In the current year there are 12 students who will move to 7th class next year. Obviously there will be no students in the 8th class in the academic year 2012 – 2013. With the increase in strength, the school is expected to have reasonable strength from the academic year 2013-2014. The trend indicates that with a slight improvement in the infrastructure details of which are stated in later paragraphs that the school is expected to have not less than 150 students from the next academic year. The tuition fee structure is such that the kindergarten students are charged a maximum of Rs. 200 a month; 1st and 2nd standard students Rs. 220; 3rd to 5th Rs. 250 and 6th to 8th Rs. 300. But it is observed that there is no uniform collection of fees. Depending upon the economic condition of the parents of the students, the principal has exempted some students from paying full fees. In fact 18 students pay no fees at all. We accept this situation as this renders a valuable contribution to the social welfare of the rural poor. The school has collected around 1,65,000 so far from tuition fees and the total fees collected at the end of the year may not exceed 2 lakhs.
Staff
There are 10 teaching staff including the principal and 2 administrative staff. Three teachers have B.Ed degree and four have university degree and two are twelfth pass. One of the twelfth pass is a computer instructor - very smart and quite capable of teaching the children. One aspect that has been brought to our notice is the high rate of attrition of B.Ed degree teachers. However, a stable situation has been noted and the quality of teaching seems to be good for a rural based school. SODEWS attempt to send a full time teacher / administrator so far has not been succesful so far. Periodic visit by Poornima, Sundaram, Satya and Ramamurthy has an impact. The principal is still on a lookout for a teacher / administrator to be added to the staff strength particularly in the view of the strength is likely to go up by at least 25%.
School
The school has classes upto 8th. The government has recognised upto 5th standard. It is expected that the government will accord approval to 6th standard from the next academic year as the education department seems to be satisfied with the overall performance of the school including the present infrastructure. This move will pave way for the recognition upto the 8th standard in due course. A copy of the government report by the District Block Education Officer (DBEO) expressing satisfaction about the school is enclosed.
Computer education
Computer classes are held thrice a week giving about three hours of training.
Transport
The school provides transport at a cost of Rs.10,000 a month to bring children from villages which are more than 1.5 - 2 kms. The children pay a nominal charge of Rs. 100 to the school. This facility has been a major factor for the improved strength of the school. In a PTA meeting, which we had, the view of the parents and the committee members was that the school strength would grow considerably if the school had its own mini van. The capital cost of getting a mini van is likely to be around 6 lakhs. The parents emphasise that this will not only improve the strength of the school but also provide a safe commuting to the school during the peak season (about 4 months).
Infrastructure to be developed
There already exists a playfield, which requires a protective wall (because of mountainous area there is no level playing field). Heavy floods in the recent monsoon destroyed the wall constructed earlier. It was observed that the construction of the wall was not of the desirable standard, which led to the destruction. We have discussed this subject in complete detail including the use of the stones that have been washed away to minimise the reconstruction of the wall to an acceptable standard to withhold any fury of flood in future. Estimate for this project is under preparation.
We have obtained an estimate for 8 lakhs for the construction of two classrooms measuring 400 sq. ft. each. Additional rooms are justified as it was observed that in some classrooms students belonging to different levels are accomodated. SODEWS is trying to identify a possible donor for this.
Until a few months back there was an access to a land belonging to another private party for the pathway from the mainroad to the school premises. The private party has now refused to allow the use of the passage and the school has made temporary arrangement from the road. The principal finding the temporary arrangement inadequate and slippery has approached the government to provide a piece of land to lay a path to the school from the main road. The government authorities have approved the allocation of land for this path and an estimate to the tune of 2.8 lakhs has been prepared. The principal has agreed to use the funds collected by way of tution fees with an additional input from SODEWS for laying a good path.
New project – Mid day meal scheme
It is desirable to embark on this noble project to help the poor children. In our discussions with the principal we learnt that to supply two rotis and a cup of vegetables would cost about Rs. 10 per child. On the basis of having 130 children and staff it would cost Rs. 1300 a day. If implemented from 1st December 2011 upto 31st March 2012, it would cost about Rs. 1,10,000. For the next academic year with about projected 160 students and staff, the total annual cost would be Rs. 4,00,000 (250 school working days in a year). While SODEWS would try to get donors for this project, KKSF is requested to get some sponsors.
Committee and PTA meeting
On the 11th of November, we took part in the executive committee meeting of the school followed by a meeting of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) which was attended by about 65 people. The meeting revealed the admiration of the people for the manner in which the school is been administered. The principal and the teachers are devoted and take special care of the children particularly the weaker students. The parents were particularly happy that two of the children from the school have been selected for Navodaya, a central government school. These two children happen to be the only two to have been selected from Uttarkasi. Taking advantage of our presence in the PTA meeting, we stressed the importance of community participation in the activities of the school particularly when it comes to development project. The people present assured us that they would offer ‘shramdan’ and provide material support as much as possible for them. The local participation was stressed taking in view of the long-term plan for it to be self-reliant. This was endorsed by the people present in the meeting as well.
We had also suggested that the executive committee which has 10 members be reorganised to have 9 or 11 members and that only active persons should be elected to the committee.
School future plans
It is our observation that the school will have to be supported upto March 2014 for which SODEWS is approaching various individuals and organisations to extend support. This recommendation is being made, as we believe the school is producing students of quality who come from extremely poor family. SODEWS would be approaching organisations such as Azim Premji Foundation, which has announced its intention to set up high quality primary schools in rural areas particularly in states like Uttarakhand. SODEWS with its vast experience in the quality improvement of primary education will take all efforts to take partners such as Azim Premji Foundation. The enthusiasm shown by the participants in the PTA meeting provides ample proof of their desire to shoulder responsibilities gradually. The school will become a middle school from the academic year commencing April 2012, which will pave way for it to become a higher secondary school in due course.
SODEWS will continue to send its staff periodically on short-term assignments not only to monitor the performance but also to assist in teaching and administrative matters.
Our mission was fruitful particularly because of the assistance rendered by Principal Rajmati and other staff.
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