According to the draft National Education Policy 2019, an estimated 6.2 Cr. children of school age (between 6 and 18 years) were out of school in 2015. Also, around 3.26 Cr. youth between the age of (15-24 years) are non-literate (Last census). The state is trying to address the problem of a huge number of adolescents between the ages of 14 to 18 years not being in the formal system of secondary education. Different programs have been initiated by the government across the country to address this issue and help the school dropouts and never-enrolled children to receive an education. During the pandemic situation, the Bihar government has also introduced the digital learning app Vidyavahini app and classes on the Doordarshan channel to ensure continuous learning of the children. However, in rural areas especially in Mahadalit communities’ children have limited access to smartphones and TVs, as a result, most of the children have no access to education or learning materials to date. Due to the pandemic, there is uncertainty regarding the opening of formal schools as well. 

Inclusive social development is one of the focal areas of interventions of Global Program India. Inclusive education is marked as a key need for the adolescents in the target villages of Bihar state. Global Program India introduced a Learning Support Centre through which the learning outcomes of the children will be enhanced and non-school going and school drop-out are provided support and referred to government /private schools. To date, 60 centres are opened in 75 target villages. Children’s clubs are established in each village through a participatory approach in consultation with children and other stakeholders, including parents, community members, and local government officials. Through these clubs, pupils are being sensitized on issues of child marriage, child labor, hygiene and cleanliness, and health and nutrition. Through these clubs, they are being taught to identify teenagers who are at risk of child marriage or school dropout and asked to come up with plans to address these and other rights violations. 

 

Children coming to these centres belong to Dalit and Maha Dalit communities in Bihar and their age group varies between 6-14 years. The Centres are seen as a comprehensive solution to address the multiple issues of school drop-out such as economic backwardness, parent motivation, absence of functional schools in the flood and drought-prone villages. By engaging the volunteers, community mobilizers, the centre is ensuring regular learning of the children and the community stakeholders are taking ownership of the Centre. The educator cum animators are providing separate sessions for the different categories as per the need and context. Mostly they are following the same curriculum that formal schools follow. The centres are acting as a support unit for the children and parents to attend the online classes which are being organized by the schools.

Opening of learning support centres has brought a new smile on the face of marginalised communities. During one of the parent children meeting at Sotachak village in Patna district Mukhesh manjhi shared “हमें बहुत ख़ुशी है कि हमारे बच्चों के बारे में किसी ने इतना सोचा I मुझे अच्छा लगता है मेरा बच्चा इस सेंटर में जाकर पढाई करता है नयी नयी जानकारी प्राप्त करता है I महामारी के वजह से बच्चो का पढाई से सम्बन्ध करीब करीब ख़तम हो गया था I” (We are very happy that somebody thought about our children.  I feel happy when my child goes to this centre to study and learn new things. Due to the pandemic, the children’s education suffered tremendously.)

This is just the beginning, Global program India is targeting to enrol 632 children in the centres and facilitate the learning process. We are hopeful that these children will connect with the mainstream education system and complete their education.