Role of NGOs in Promoting Education in India

08/03/16

Press Coverage

69

Education is both the means as well as the end to a better life. It is a movement from  darkness to light. Without education, people get caught in the inter-generational cycles of poverty and backwardness. Seven decades have passed after independence but still, India struggles to achieve a literacy rate of over 90 per cent. Providing quality education to all children of India should be the top priority of both the State and Central governments. And thus, the different departments of the Government of India often support charities to bring more and more children under the ambit of their education initiatives.

Why NGOs are needed to boost the spread of education in India

Since India is a vast country, both geographically and demographically, government alone cannot bring all children into the fold of education. Even today, 17.7 million children in India are out of school. The retention rate in schools is still abysmally low and a large number of children drop out even before completing class 8. The status of girl child education is even worse as the mindset that girls may not be educated as they are to be eventually married off still prevails in the Indian society. In such a scenario, the role of the civil society becomes all the more important in order to ensure that the benefits of education reach the lowest strata of the society. Several Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been working at the sheer grass root levels to extend education to underprivileged children in India. Since independence, NGOs have beentrying hard to strengthen the existing education system and network in the country so that more and more children get opportunities to go to school and remain there. The best thing about NGOs is that they work at the grass root level, connecting with the masses and spreading awareness on the importance of getting good education to march ahead in life. You too can support an NGO to contribute your bit in educating the most disadvantaged children of India and get donation tax benefit.

How NGOs are contributing to the cause of education in India

NGOs like Bal Raksha Bharat have been spearheading the movement to provide quality education to the most marginalized and deprived children of India. With programmes in the most remote and marginalized areas of India, the NGO ensures that the benefits of the Right to Education Act reach the most deprived children. The idea is to ensure that all children, irrespective of their origin, are able to go to school, play, interact and learn with other children of their age so that they secure for them a life of dignity and contribute to the betterment of the economy. Donate to an NGO today and help them spread education by the following measures:

1. Most important aspect to boost the spread of education is to spread awareness amongst the parents and the communities and every child needs education. The message needs to spread far and wide and getting quality education is the legitimate right of all children, no matter which social or economic background they come from. Bal Raksha Bharat connects with the most backward communities, where there are several instances of children squandering their childhood in fields and factories or dropping out of school, and counsels parents and elders on the importance of sending children to school.

Read Also: Right to Education Act (RTE) -Importance & Responsibilities

2. Another important aspect to improve the penetration of quality education among the most deprived children is to make learning a fun experience. Child education NGOs like Bal Raksha Bharat train teachers to impart learning using child-friendly and interactive teaching-learning methods. The NGO sets libraries and infrastructure right, conducts computer and English classes, promotes and facilitates extra-curricular activities and sports.
3. The NGOs engage heavily with the local communities to form Children Groups (CGs) and School Management Committees (SMCs) and work with them to ensure that they take accountability of the development of the children in their community. Massive enrolment drives are conducted in which out-of-school and vulnerable children are mapped and enrolled into formal schools in age-appropriate classes.
4. Group learning has proved to be one learning methodology which helps children learn better and fast and also promotes healthy competition. In classrooms, Bal Raksha Bharat encourages and helps children to undertake learning activities in groups.
5. Metros such as Kolkata and Delhi are home to a large number of urban poor who live in slum or slum-like areas. Children in these communities are often involved in child labour and have very little or no access to education. Bal Raksha Bharat runs learning centres for street children and child labourers coming from socially-excluded communities where they are provided learning and/or after-school support. The idea is to groom these children and help them take the leap to formal schooling.

Conclusion

The importance of the role of NGOs can play in the spread of education to different nook and corners of a vast country like India is undeniable. Together with existing Government machinery, NGOs can ensure that no child is left behind when it comes to getting education.

Gaurav Sharma

Content Reviewer

“I am an editor and technical specialist at Bal Raksha Bharat, responsible for publishing articles and posts. My role involves evaluating content for consistency, and ensuring a positive user experience across the website."