Malfunction: NGO’s fail to provide impetus to reforms in Schools
‘Decision to rope in various stakeholders proved futile’
Srinagar: The decision to rope in various Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) for their intervention in schools to improve the academic standards has fallen flat as the education department has failed to achieve the objective for which the move was undertaken.
Notably, over the past two years, the school education department on the directions of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had roped in around 20 NGOs for their intervention in schools.
“But the move didn’t prove fruitful for the education department as there was no improvement in the academic scenario in schools,” an official said.
Besides, the NGOs were entrusted also to provide their assistance in teacher training programmes but the decision didn’t work out with the department as well.
“Even though various workshops were conducted but except photo shoot, there was zero outcome of it. The ground situation in schools is the same as it was before engaging these NGOs,” the official said who is part of inspection team in various districts.
Pertinently, the department had roped in at least 20 NGOs to work at the state level, zonal and district levels in schools.
“These organizations were also assisting to mobilize out of schools children in the state but the initiative failed to bear fruits as the department failed to arrest the dropout rate in schools,” the official said.
He said the department has failed to mainstream the out of school children as well which has thrown up a major challenge for the authorities in the department.
“The department had signed MoU with several organization for their assistance and acquaint officers at school, zonal and district level with leadership skills. But the initiative remained confined to papers only. Roping in NGOs didn’t make any difference at the ground level,” the official said.
The NGOs were roped in by the department in wake of the poor outcome of learning level of students in government schools as depicted by various national level surveys like Annual State Education Report (ASER), National University of Education Planning and Administration (NUEPA) and National Achievement Survey (NAS) conducted by NCERT over the years.
“NGOs were supposed to help the department through various interventions like holding training programmes under erstwhile SSA and RMSA schemes and other initiatives. Unfortunately, there was no improvement in any aspect in the schools,” the official said.
The NGOs which were roped in include UNICEF, Pratham education foundation, Lend a Hand India, Chinar International, UNISED, Akshaya Patra, Save the Children, J&K Association of Social Workers and Rotary India Literacy Mission besides other NGOs as well.
“The department has also engaged NGOs for imparting leadership skills to Principals, Headmasters, CEOs and ZEOs and conducting training sessions at the state level. But it all remained confined to papers,” the official said.
Secretary school education department, Sarita Chauhan didn’t respond to repeated calls from this newspaper.
KV Correspondent
