From Uncertainty to 96.83%: Amrita’s Educational Journey

Just a year ago, for 11-year-old Amrita Rathiya, continuing her education beyond primary school seemed uncertain, and scoring above 96% appeared far beyond reach. A Class 6 student from Rajamma village, Amrita had always been recognised as a sincere and academically strong child. Teachers often appreciated her discipline and regular attendance during her primary education. However, despite her interest in studies, poverty, and lack of access to nearby schools nearly forced her to discontinue her education after Class 5.

Rajamma is a small rural village where most families depend on agriculture and daily wage labour for survival. The village has only a primary school, and children must travel six kilometres to Mainpuri for middle and secondary education. The route includes rough village roads and forest patches, making daily travel difficult, especially for young children and girls.

Amrita lives with her grandmother while her parents, Omprakash Rathiya and Santhoshi Rathiya, migrate to other areas for daily wage work. Their irregular income made it difficult to arrange transportation or hostel support for her education. Like many rural families facing economic hardship, they were uncertain whether continuing Amrita’s education beyond primary school would be possible.

Despite these challenges, Amrita remained determined to continue studying. She regularly completed her schoolwork at home and often studied late in the evening after helping her grandmother with household chores. Along with studies, she also managed small responsibilities at home while waiting for her parents to return from work.

“I always wanted to continue my studies to make a great future,” Amrita said. “I knew the school was far away, but I did not want to stop studying after Class 5 like some other girls in the village.”

The Caritas India supported Khushaal Bachpan (KB) project was initiated in Rajamma in 2024 with a special focus on enabling children to realise their rights to participation, education, food, and nutrition. Along with supporting children in improving their academic performance, Khushaal Bachpan also works with communities to create a safer and more supportive environment for children’s overall wellbeing.

The KB team learned about Amrita’s school dropout through her neighbours, who described her as a hardworking student with strong academic potential. Soon after, the team met Amrita and her grandmother to better understand the family’s situation and the challenges that had led to her discontinuation from school.

“When we met Amrita, we understood that the main challenge was not her willingness to study, but the lack of access and financial support,” said Yashoda Rathiya, Community Educator under the Khushaal Bachpan programme. “The nearest middle school was six kilometres away, and there was no safe daily transport available for her.”

KB, including District Program Associate Sr. Jessy, discussed possible support options with the family. After counselling the parents and grandmother, the team helped facilitate Amrita’s admission Chacha Nehru School, a residential school offering subsidized schooling to children belonging to economically weak families, so that she could continue her education safely. The team supported the family in meeting a part of the school fees, completing admission-related formalities and ensuring that Amrita received guidance during the transition process.

“Many children in remote villages discontinue education due to distance and poverty,” said Sr. Jessy, District Program Associate. “Amrita was highly motivated and academically capable. We felt it was important to ensure that she received an opportunity to continue her studies without interruption.”

Moving to the hostel was emotionally challenging for Amrita in the beginning. She had never stayed away from her grandmother for such a long period. Adjusting to hostel routines, managing studies independently, and adapting to a new environment required effort and patience. However, she gradually settled into hostel life and began focusing fully on her academics.

Her grandmother recalled the difficult decision of sending her away from home. “We were worried because she was still young,” she said. “But we also knew that if she stayed in the village, her studies might stop. KB team gave us confidence and supported us throughout the process.”

At Chacha Nehru School, Amrita maintained a disciplined daily routine. She attended classes regularly, revised lessons during evening study hours, and actively participated in school activities. Her hard work gradually reflected in her academic performance. Amrita performed consistently well in classroom assessments and gained confidence in subjects such as Mathematics and Science.

At the end of the academic session, Amrita scored 96.83% marks, which catapulted her to the league of toppers. Her achievement brought pride to her family and became a positive example within Rajamma village. Community members who had once considered distance a major barrier to girls’ education began discussing the importance of continuing education for their daughters.

“When I saw my result, I felt very happy,” Amrita shared. “I remembered my parents, grandmother, and the KB team who supported me. I want to continue studying and achieve more in the future.”

Her mother, Santhoshi Rathiya, spoke about the change she witnessed in her daughter. “Earlier, we worried about her future every day,” she said. “Now she studies confidently and speaks about becoming a teacher. We feel proud of her efforts.”

Today, Amrita continues her studies at Chacha Nehru School with confidence and clear aspirations for the future. Her journey reflects the importance of timely educational support, family encouragement, and community-based intervention in helping children overcome barriers to education.