The Covid-19 pandemic drastically shifted the course of education in India. Not only did it introduce a digital mode of education in the country, but it also made adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour challenging due to limited infrastructure. Public schools in rural India are plagued by dilapidated buildings, poor access to sanitation facilities, teacher absenteeism, and other factors that negatively impact access to quality education. To strengthen these key community services, Caritas India, with the support of Misereor, has taken steps towards addressing these key issues across rural schools in India.

With the support of the field team and coordination with school authorities, identification of schools requiring assistance in key areas of (i) repair or refurbishment of the school building or premises, (ii) WASH concerns, and (iii) supporting cognitive learning through learning paintings In over 20 public lower primary and high schools across the districts of Cachar (Assam), Jehanabad (Bihar), Bidar (Karnataka), and Uttar Dinajpur (West Bengal).

In the immediate aftermath of the storm that hit the roof of Horintilla LP School in Cachar, the field team coordinated with the school authorities to provide labour support for the repair. Similarly, painting and refurbishment of school premises through painting in Jehanabad, Bihar, and repair of leaking classrooms and verandahs in Cachar district, Assam, ensured a safer space for pupils to continue their learning.

Improving WASH conditions in the schools, repairing toilets, constructing handwashing stations, and creating awareness paintings on overall hand hygiene were also undertaken in Cachar after the Assam Floods in 2022. This ensured that children would not only have access to infrastructure to adhere to COVID-19-appropriate behaviour but also have fewer cases of diseases post floods.

“School is our second home, and after floods, our parents were always worried about us falling sick due to poor water and toilets. We saw how the handwashing station was constructed with Caritas India’s support. We are happy to come back here, free from worries of falling sick, as now we have proper toilet and handwashing facilities”, said Sayak Pashi, a student of eight standard from Irongmara LP School, Cachar.

To make students own the process of learning and turn schools into lively places, murals and wall paintings to promote their cognitive learning were done in four programme villages in Uttar Dinajpur (West Bengal) and Bidar (Karnataka). These visual stimuli helped integrate visual arts into the core curriculum and make the classroom appealing to students.

These dull and dilapidated buildings have turned into beautiful centres of learning. These small steps taken by Caritas India will ensure more participation of students in classrooms and improved sanitation facilities, thereby motivating students to attend school regularly and leading to lower dropout rates.