• at@acttotransform.org

Upgradation of School Infrastructure

Upgradation of School Infrastructure

As per Department of Economic and Social Affairs, additional 101 million children have fallen below minimum reading proficiency levels in 2020. COVID-19 has wiped out 20 years of education gains. Hence, our commitment towards quality education and better learning becomes more significant.

Himachal Pradesh has created a strong network of schools and is rated among top states in education but the state is grappling with problems of poor learning levels, falling enrolment in government schools, shortage of staff and inadequate infrastructure. According to an answer tabled in Himachal assembly in Winter Session, 2019; More than 300 schools in the state have no electricity facility. Some have no toilets and rooms while some schools are running without a building. On ground survey by our team identified following major infrastructure gaps in the Government schools of Hamirpur district:

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TOILETS

  • School Staff using the same toilet as
    students.
  • Boys relieving themselves in the open.
  • Absence of partitions in Girl’s Toilet.
  • Inappropriate ventilation in the toilets.
  • No bins/facility for disposing of the
    sanitary waste.
  • Lack of space in the Girls toilet for placing the incinerators.
  • Absence of privacy in accessing the toilets.
  • Inadequate number of toilets for given school strengths.
  • Low hygiene standards.

ROOMS & INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Rooms that are declared unsafe limit the number of classrooms and laboratories.
  • Dilapidated roof structures.
  • Dismaying walls.
  • Dearth of computers.
  • Limited benches.
  • Absence of shed in corridors and staircases.
  • Inadequate equipment in laboratories.

PLAYGROUNDS

  • Separated from the main school premises.
  • Absence of boundary walls.
  • Limited space.
  • Unfriendly courts/facility.
  • Outdated equipment.
REDEVELOPED CLASSROOMS

REDEVELOPED CLASSROOMS

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REDEVELOPED LABORATORIES

REDEVELOPED LABORATORIES

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PROVISION OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER

PROVISION OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER

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REDEVELOPED TOILETS

REDEVELOPED TOILETS

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EK SE Sreshtha

EK SE Sreshtha

To ensure that quality of education remains to be a birthright for each and every child, hailing from any economic background, ‘Ek Se Sreshtha’ programme was initiated.

Ek Se Sreshtha is a noble initiative, aimed at holistic development of children, barring any socio-economic background, free of cost, by ensuring classes post school hours, through teachers within their vicinity at the panchayat level, in District Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur, Kangra & Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.

Since the inception, Ek Se Sreshtha has been working towards ensuring that education is accessible to all through our noble step.

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What do we do:

Inspired by traditional Gurukul education where a common learning space is developed for children from different age groups and backgrounds, we welcome all children primarily between the age group 3-12 years from all walks of life, hailing from private & Government schools.

With Ek Se Sreshtha, our mission is to reach across the length & breadth of the State and democratize education! We are working round the clock to ensure that students have access to continuous learning, at the convenience of their doorstep.

The curriculum:

  • Basic Literacy
  • Health & Hygiene
  • General Knowledge
  • Cultural Values
  • Ethical & Moral values

Key Highlights:

  • Laptop to all teachers
  • School bag with in built study table
  • Protein milk shake daily to all the students
  • Pencil box, stationery, books, notepads, etc. to all the children

Where do we stand:

  • 7500+ students
  • 426 centres Centres across 426 panchayats of District Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur, Kangra & Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
  • 23,778+ lives impacted positively through this intervention

Economic Impact so far:

  • 477 people have obtained direct employment through the initiative including the teachers, coordinators & managing staff
  • Women comprise 90% of the total workforce
  • It is the first job for 60% of the employees
  • The centres along with taking care of the growth & well-being of the kids when their parents are engaged in labour, have helped in collective saving of over Rs. 4.50 crore for the 7,500+ households by providing free education & additional savings through provision of free stationery, books, bags and laptops

Social impact so far:

  • Dignity of teachers
  • Quality education has become accessible at the doorstep
  • Community & parents engagement has increased significantly
  • Learning platform across age groups & overall personality development & healthcare of children

With Ek Se Sreshtha, our mission is to reach across the length & breadth of the State and democratize education! We are working round the clock to ensure that students have access to continuous learning, at the convenience of their doorstep.

WORKSHOP ON YOUTH LEADERSHIP & LIFE SKILLS

WORKSHOP ON YOUTH LEADERSHIP & LIFE SKILLS

Act To Transform has adopted a holistic approach for the education sector with a focus on overall transformation in academics which is not just limited to infrastructure and targets the overall process of Child and Youth Development. Hence, we seek to promote activities and experiences that help developing social, ethical, emotional and cognitive competencies.
In this direction, a workshop on ‘Youth Leadership and People Skills’ was organized in Gautum Girls College, Hamirpur. It was piloted by Prof. Vinay Trivedi (Coordinator, Environment Sanitation Institute). Students were counselled on various youth issues like drug abuse, emotional intelligence and leadership. They were made to introspect and discover the warmth of our relationships with parents, teachers, friends and the society.

The objective behind organizing this workshop is aligned with the objectives of National Youth Policy 2014 –

  • Develop a strong and healthy generation equipped to take on future challenges.
  • Instill social values and promote community service to strengthen nationalism in the country.
  • All round development of youth and adolescents enabling them to shoulder constructive development of the country.
  • Support youth at risk and create equitable opportunity for all disadvantaged and marginalized youth.
WORKSHOP ON MENTAL HEALTH

WORKSHOP ON MENTAL HEALTH

Among the many harmful and lasting impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, the most adverse effect has been on the mental health of school students. Schools have been closed for the longest time in the history of India due to the pandemic. Consequently, many students are now unable to recover from its psychological impact. The closure of schools has not only increased the stress and dilemma of the children but has also affected their socio-emotional side badly. With, the need of the hour to make teachers and students aware of mental health, a workshop for girls of Government Senior Secondary School, Chauri was organized as part of a week-long celebration of International Women’s Day.

The session was conducted by a clinical psychologist, who covered various key aspects related to mental well-being of students like stress, body image, peer pressure etc. Students were counselled about their fears and concerns and guided on preventive care. Like physical health, mental health is also important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood. To reduce the stigma around mental health, we would transform a selected group of students from different schools into ambassadors of mental health.

“Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind”

– Kofi Annan