The Times of India 06.08.2012
'39% out-of-school children are from construction sites, illegal dwellings'
PUNE: City-based NGO Door
Step School's own survey has found 2,680 out-of-school children in the
6-8 age bracket in the city. The NGO's drive is part of its campaign to
enroll all 6-7-year-old children in std I of municipal schools.
The survey combed all 76 civic panels in the city and covered 716
sites. It found that 39% of the out-of-school children were from small
construction sites and unauthorised dwellings. The study also mapped 41
PMC and six Zilla Parishad schools close to these to assess the capacity
of these schools to admit them. It found that of the 41 PMC schools,
40% had potential capacity shortfall (based on 2011-12 enrolment figures
and survey data).
Transport assessment of 458 sites proved that
transport to school was required at 82% sites and for 84% children. ajani Paranjpe, founder president, Door Step School, said, "The
campaign is called Every Child Counts. It is a citizens' initiative to
enroll every 6-8 year old child in standard 1 of municipal schools. The
Right to Education Act directs children to be put in the age-appropriate
class, which means that a ten-year-old will have to be put in std V
irrespective of not having been in school before that. Hence, the child
will have to put in extra efforts and cover all that he/she has missed.
Therefore, it is better to enroll these 6-7 year olds in schools now."
"The survey is by no means complete and we have probably covered just 40% of sites in PMC limits. A large number of volunteers are required to continue the work and ensure maximum number of 6-7 yr old children are enrolled this year," said Paranjpe.
"We have admitted as many as 602 children in various schools as part of the campaign. However, transport is a problem for most. Thus of the 602 enrolled, 202 have been provided transport or escort. About 192 go to school walking (82) or by school arranged transport (77) or by PMT bus ( 31) or by transport arranged by parents (2). However, a total of 208 children of the total enrolled are not attending schools due to lack of transport. Capacity shortfall is probably not seen at present, because though children are enrolled, they cannot reach schools," she said. Every Child Counts is a citizens' campaign initiated by the Door Step School in partnership with NGOs Swadhar, Childline and Tara Mobile Creche.
"The survey is by no means complete and we have probably covered just 40% of sites in PMC limits. A large number of volunteers are required to continue the work and ensure maximum number of 6-7 yr old children are enrolled this year," said Paranjpe.
"We have admitted as many as 602 children in various schools as part of the campaign. However, transport is a problem for most. Thus of the 602 enrolled, 202 have been provided transport or escort. About 192 go to school walking (82) or by school arranged transport (77) or by PMT bus ( 31) or by transport arranged by parents (2). However, a total of 208 children of the total enrolled are not attending schools due to lack of transport. Capacity shortfall is probably not seen at present, because though children are enrolled, they cannot reach schools," she said. Every Child Counts is a citizens' campaign initiated by the Door Step School in partnership with NGOs Swadhar, Childline and Tara Mobile Creche.
