1

Sugamya ShikshaEnabling access to quality education

About Sugamya ShikshaSugamya Shiksha is a unique CSR model developed by GRAAM in association with Page Industries Limited to bring to fruition, the commitment of Page towards the overall well-being of communities.

Recognising education as a vital requisite for progress, Sugamya Shiksha seeks to strengthen the quality of education imparted in government schools. Page Industries and GRAAM have recognized the need for complementing government systems rather than working in isolation.

The programme elements of Sugamya Shiksha have evolved out of an intensive community needs assessment (CNA) conducted by GRAAM with the support of Page Industries.

There are eight sub-projects under the larger umbrella programme of Sugamya Shiksha, designed to address the diverse needs that children have. The projects are however interconnected and feed into one another e.g. Wash-E feeds into Sandhya Shale, in that it promotes hygiene and health when children gather for evening school. Jockey Fit ensures that children play sport and gain stamina and improved health – both mental and physical.

In the first phase, Sugamya Shiksha will reach out to around 1000 children in three selected government schools. The programme will be scaled up to reach 19 schools and 5000 children in the second phase.

IN FOCUSGRAAM implements CSR-led ‘Facilitative Education’ in selected government schoolsGrassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM), with an aim to strengthen the public education system, has taken up comprehensive development of selective schools, in a corporate social responsibility (CSR)-led programme known as Sugamya Shiksha Additionally, the programme plugs gaps in the education of children through supportive resources.

The main vehicle for this is Sandhya Shale, which, as a project under Sugamya Shiksha seeks to create a joyful and activity-filled learning platform for children. Skill laboratories, which bridge the gap in the curriculum through life, language and computer skills, are an important part of Sandhya Shale.

Activities in the skill labs have been designed to enhance the mental and physical fitness of children, being mindful that they come from different social, cultural and economic backgrounds. They seek to shape them into positive forces of society. Aptly named Jockey Fit, My Country-My Pride, and WASH, teachers, as well as children understand the concept of fitness, health and sanitation through these focused activities.

One such skill lab was dedicated to the children of Koodlu Government Model Higher Primary School on 21 March 2017 in the presence of Sri Ramamurthy, Field Education Officer – Anekal, Sri R Basavaraju, Executive Director – GRAAM, Sri Minor Ganesh, Vice-President-HR, Page Industries, Sri Shivanna, President – Anekal Taluk Teachers Association, Rajanna, Social Resource Officer, Sri Sakappa and Sri Muniyappa, Presidents – SDMC. On this occasion, hearing aids were also distributed to children who had earlier been tested and found hearing impaired.

Newsletter Issue 2

“We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet.” – Swami Vivekananda

TESTIMONIAL“Sugamya Shiksha has proved to be a boon for our children who are from families with weak economic status. This programme adds to what our government system already provides for them and this completes the gap. We are particularly appreciative of the efforts to teach them hygiene, and cleanliness.The children have been taught the importance of hand-washing and this has now become a habit. The toilets are clean thanks to the help we get from the project. The entire team interacts very well with the children and helps them with academics at the Sandhya Shale. The results are definitely going to be better this year. We are grateful for this help and assure we will cooperate with them.” – Venkateshappa, Head Master, Government Model Primary School, Kudlu.

2

Sandhya Shale gets a performer! Mahadeva Prasad, a class VI student, had already confounded everybody who had tried to discipline him and make him a good student. He was irregular to school and initially refused to attend the Sandhya Shale. His teachers in school had given up on him and were skeptical about his participation in the evening classes.

The staff of Sugamya Shiksha however was hopeful. They spoke to him and convinced him to attend one evening. When he turned up he was left alone to observe what was happening in class. Everybody spoke to him with warmth and friendliness. This changed something in Mahadeva Prasad and came the day when even illness couldn’t keep him from attending school. All it took is a kind word and some gestures of love to create a love for school in a boy who had been written off. His attendance in school has shown a marked improvement and he is much more disciplined now. His academic performance too is now satisfactory and bound to get better!

Sahana convinces her father that Sandhya Shale is good for her!Sahana, a student of Class VI, Begur Government Higher Primary School had seen her friends attending Sandhya Shale and was keen to attend. Her parents refused permission fearing that it would not be safe for her to return home late after classes.

Sahana was determined and convinced the staff of Sandhya Shale to let her return home a little early so she could reach home before dark. She also persuaded her father to call the Manager and request his permission, which was granted. Sahana is now a regular student at evening classes and progressing well in her studies. She also reaches home on time, thus respecting her parents’ wishes.

My COUNTRy, My pRIdEAn interaction was held on 7 March 2017 between the students of Government Model Primary School, Kudlu and Suresh, Head Constable, Parappana Agrahara police station, Kudlu. Around 260 students from Class VI to Class IX, the Headmaster and Headmistress of Primary and High School respectively, the SDMC President, and staff of Sugamya Shiksha participated in the interaction, which was a part of My Country, My Pride, a project under Sugamya Shiksha.

Suresh, a Chief Minister’s gold medal award winner explained to the students, the duties of police personnel and the role they play in maintaining peace in society. He also motivated the students to look at the police force as a career option. His session was so detailed and precise that the students were able to repeat easily how to register a complaint and seek police help while in distress. Suresh also explained in detail, the duties of policewomen and how well they were performing. This also motivated the girl students. The children understood very well at the end of the session that while soldiers guard our borders, police guard the nation itself.

At Government Higher Primary School, Kodichikkanahalli, a motivational talk was organised for the students and Col. Uttaiah (Retd), was invited to address them. The Head Teacher, Fairoz Basha, students from Class VII and VIII, as well as the teachers from the school were present. Col. Uttaiah shared his experiences as an army officer with the students and motivated them to love their country enough to lay down their lives if needed. Col. Uttaiah also presented the army as a career option to the students, both boys and girls. The students were very energised by the talk and participated actively in the discussion after the address.

3

Chirayu Counselling was conducted for parents of children with hearing disabilities on 7&8 March 2017. Parents present at the session were given complete information about the importance of early detection of hearing impairment and the benefits of using hearing aids. They were also told that children often have learning disabilities owing to problems in hearing and this can be avoided by early intervention. Post counselling several parents consented to their children being fitted with hearing aids.

Signing off with Basu…Sugamya Shiksha has taught us in a very short time, that when the government, civil society, corporate and the community join together, it is possible to achieve excellence in government schools. In reality, government schools are equipped with every requirement for quality schooling; the teachers are trained and have experience as well as expertise. These are all requisites for building a strong education system. What government schools lack is community participation and this is a gap that Sugamya Shiksha will fill. The Facilitative Education concept is built on this very vital participation need. Our ultimate is to increase the demand for education in government schools, and to dispel the myth that private schools have facilities that government schools cannot provide. We are sure that with the strong participation of the school authorities, the patronage of Page Industries Limited, and the blessings of the government, GRAAM will achieve this. I sign off with hope…

IN ThE NEwS...

4

THE pROGRAMME MApprojects of Sugamya Shiksha

project Objectives

Sandhya Shale • To create an extended learning and activity platform beyond school hours to address the challenges for learning at home.

Skill Labs (Life/Soft/Language/Computer) • To bridge the skill-education gaps (life, language, social, soft) in the existing learning system at school

Education Support Program for High School Children

• To conduct supplementary classes to equip children to perform well in examinations and support them to continue their education

CHIRAYU (Children’s health program) • To provide health education and awareness to the children• Assistive aids and services for children with disability

Jockey Fit Children Program (Physical education and sports)

• To enhance the health and physical fitness of children and to develop their interest in sports and create opportunities for them to play and channelize their potential in a positive direction

Integrated energy solutions for schools • To find alternative and integrated solutions for addressing resource deficiency at the school level

My Country, My Pride • To create awareness and inculcate the spirit of nationalism and encourage children to participate in nation building activities

WASH-E (Water Sanitation Hygiene and Energy)

• To develop and strengthen the health & hygiene concept among teachers and students and to create models of sanitation at the school level.

School Development Project • To facilitate the strengthening of School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) to ensure community participation in school development activities

Sugamya Shiksha – a birds-eye viewThe geographydistrict: Bangalore Rural

Schools Begur Kudlu Kodichikkanahalli

Grade hpS hS Total hpS hS Total LpS hpS Total

No. of children (Kan) 130 163 293 127 56 183 79 75 154

No. of children (Eng) 117 74 191 69 31 100 0 0 0

Total 247 237 484 196 87 283 79 75 154

Schools Begur Kudlu Kodichikkanahalli

Grade hpS hS Total hpS hS Total LpS hpS Total

Girls 115 109 224 111 42 153 35 40 75

Boys 132 128 260 85 45 130 44 35 79

Total 247 237 484 196 87 283 79 75 154

• Higher Primary School (HPS) – 6th to 8th Standard• High School (HS) – 9th and 10th Standard

5

The joys, the challenges, the triumphs, the smiles

A MONTAGE

6

7

ABOUT GRAAM:Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM) is a public policy research and advocacy initiative founded with the aim of nurturing a space for evolution of public policy that embodies community ‘voice’ and is based on empiricism, democratic principles and a progressive interaction of the key stakeholders in development that includes the State, Citizenry, Private Sector, Civil Society and Academia. (More at http://www.graam.org.in/about-us). The development programs and models designed by GRAAM are backed with evidences and learning directly from the field.

ABOUT page Industries Ltd:Page Industries Limited located in Bangalore, India is the exclusive licensee of JOCKEY International Inc. (USA) for manufacture, distribution and marketing of the JOCKEY® brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UAE. Page Industries is also the exclusive licensee of Speedo International Ltd. for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of the Speedo brand in India.

Page has adopted CSR as a strategic tool for sustainable growth. For Page in the present context, CSR means not only investment of funds for social activity but also integration of business processes with social processes. Page has consistently demonstrated social responsibility by supporting needy children for education, organizing medical camps, providing financial assistance for heart surgeries for poor children, etc.

8

GRAAMproject Office: Tel : 080-41666047

Administrative Office: # CA-2, KIADB Industrial Housing Area, Ring Road, Hebbal, Mysore – 570016Telefax:+91-821-2415412; E-Mail: graam@graam.org.in Web: www.graam.org.in