The Hindu : Bridge schools achieve 100 p.c. retention

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 15, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Bridge schools achieve 100 p.c. retention

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD NOV. 14. The district administration's determined drive to eliminate child labour and provide the best possible education to deprived children has yielded results with most of the bridge schools in the district achieving 100 per cent retention even after a year.

If Velpur became the first mandal in the State to achieve the distinction of 100 per cent enrolment of children under the Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE) scheme implemented through the District Primary Education Project (DPEP), several other mandals in the district followed suit with the result that mandals like Yedpalli, Renjal, Nandipet, Jakranpalli, Morthad, Dichpalli, Dharpalli and Navipet are today declared child labour free mandals.

The district administration did not merely end its campaign with enrolment, but saw to it that all the bridge schools, including some residential bridge camps, retained the original strength. It is here that the district carved out a niche for itself when compared to other places.

After a year of struggle, the district administration proudly claims that their efforts and commitment has brought laurels to the district. People's participation in a big way has come as a pleasant surprise to the administration itself. No other programme evoked such response from the people. The elected representatives also played their part.

Today Nizamabad has become a perfect destination for officials, NGOs, educational institutions and Central Government officials besides important dignitaries. Most of the VIPs who have paid a visit to bridge schools and camps returned with long lasting impression and a determination to implement the same model in their States. Several VIPs such as Justice, K. Ramaswamy, member, National Human Rights Commission, visited the district. In his report to the NHRC chief, Justice Ramaswamy, complimented the district administration for the good work and went on to add that the campaign should be extended to all mandals.

The Joint Review Mission of the DPEP, the senior adviser of DFID, the Joint Secretary, Education, Union Ministry of Education, Sumita Bose, and the DPEP State Project Director, M. Nagarjuna, besides a number of delegations from different States visited the bridge schools.

It was a year ago that the a massive highly intensive and carefully planned effort was launched to achieve 100 per cent enrolment of 5-14 year-old children in Velpur mandal. Awareness campaign through rallies, gram sabhas, video films, handouts, wall writings and door-to-door campaign resulted in tremendous response.

But, the campaign had its own problems with inconsistencies in survey data, employers of children demanding money be given to their parents in advance and `out of school' children with `schoolphobia' dodging the teams and hiding from them.

All these hiccups were overcome with child-to-child motivation, parents' motivated and community and caste elders being convinced about the importance of education. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the sarpanch of each gram panchayat and District Collector under the AP Compulsory Education Act, 1985 was the ultimate success, the district administration achieved.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Bill Gates supports A.P. initiatives

Steps to protect coop. banks urged

Bridge schools achieve 100 p.c. retention

Gates disappoints women

Watershed projects prove successful in Nellore dt.

Farmers urged to take up horticulture

Strive towards becoming self-reliant, VSS told

`Emotional disorders may hamper IQ in kids'

National integration theme marks Children's Day