Friday, June 26, 2009

Jodhpur and Pali School Update

In January 2009, HOPE worldwide started its operations in Jodhpur and Pali districts of Rajasthan with main objective to empower children and young people by providing computer-based learning and spoken English skills training in government schools. The presence of HOPE worldwide staff is welcomed by local management, has proven to be inspiring for the workers in government institutions, who appreciate the gratitude and kindness shown by their friends in HOPE. Already 1150 children in 3 schools are being benefitted by the work created as a result of Dr. A.M. Singhvi’s MPLADS funding.

 
Name of the school (No. of students)
  1. Shri Sultan Government Sr Sec. boys School, Police Line, Pali District: (Students: 650)
  2. Government Secondary (co-ed) School, Maderna Colony, Jodhpur Dist: (Students: 340)Government Secondary (co-ed) School, Police line, Jodhpur Dist: (Students: 160)
TOTAL: 1150

MPLADS – Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament
These schools have received a total MPLADS grant of Rs. 24.82 Lac for establishment of computer labs. These centers will have a total of 40 computers with well furnished lab.

 
Highlights of the computer lab:

 
1. Free computer education to all the school students which includes primary section. No fee is charged to any school student.
2. Students will be trained on Basics, MS DOS, MS office, as well as over 100 multilingual interactive concept learning CDs specially designed keeping in view the academics of the school students by APF (Azim Premji Foundation). This will enhance the learning capacity of each student, indirectly resulting in improvement in grades and percentage of the regular school curriculum.
3. The school staff will receive training simultaneously; thus resulting in development of institutional capacity.
4. Free computer learning will result in increase in new student enrollment and improvement in school attendance.
5. This centre will build confidence and create opportunities for school students to study further and increase individual’s earning capacity.

 
Achievements So Far:

 
1) Baseline survey of the population at all the three schools.

2) Received the Regional director of education office’s approval to work and establish the computer labs within the schools.
3) Successfully organising spoken English skills within the school timing in the regular classrooms.
4) Assisted the school management in doing the MPLADS paper work for establishing the labs (such as tender documents, specifications for refurbishment and computer equipment)
5) Successfully implemented the 45 days summer camp in all the three schools plus some youth at the Lal Maidan School in Jodhpur.
6) Certificate ceremony for summer camp at Maderna Colony School was attended by Mr. Sanklaji DEO - Jodhpur as chief guest.
7) On the job spoken English training for staff at regular intervals enhancing their teaching skills.