Recognising the latent potential of the adolescent Muslim girl in a marginalised society where 60 per cent of populace is semi-literate and lives below the poverty line, Sir Syed Group of Schools, an NGO, brought the schools to their homes and have succeeded in mobilising the little women to effect social reform and community awareness.
The objective was to bring the schools home to willing students unable to attend formal schools due to socio-economic pressures and impart non-formal basic education to girls between the age of 13 and 19 years.
"The need for focussing on adolescent girls was felt as there were no special Government programmes for them", says Mr. Anwar Premi, honorary general secretary, SSGS, claiming that their project is unique among the minority community in the country.,
Those with basic primary education or no education and school dropouts are all eligible, to join the courses in Urdu and English, that are being conducted for the last five years .... The SSGS has so far imparted non-formal education to nearly 1000 adolescent girls through its home schools. It runs 15 such schools with one teacher in each and a total of 150 students. In addition, it conducts a two- year condensed formal course for those wishing to appear for the State Secondary (Madhyamik) Examinations as private candidates, after completion of their three-year course in home schools. At present it has 25 candidates in its condensed course ...
The SSGS also runs a drug de-addiction centre in the area with the neo-literate girls playing an important role ...
The home school has not only equipped the girls with basic education and community awareness, for many it has provided a new direction in life. ...
The teachers, who get Rs.150 per month, are motivated and trained to establish friendship with the girls. They prepare a monthly appraisal report of each girl. The three-year course run by the home schools is based on the non-formal training chalked out by the State Social Welfare Department. But these schools are yet to be recognised by the Government.
The syllabus in the home schools have three components - basic education, personal and reproductive health and community awareness. The syllabus varies for those who have received education upto the primary level and for those in the above primary level. The condensed course is aimed at dropouts from formal schools whose schooling has been terminated due to various factors.
With a view to making adolescent girls and women over 20 years self-sufficient, the SSGS has also launched a "Jeevika Project" imparting them training in stitching soft toys and embroidery. At present 12 girls are engaged in the project. SSGS also runs a craft centre offering income generation packages to women like paper packet making, juice making, doormat stitching, textile printing, block printing and sewing ....
The SSGS, registered in 1985, receives a grant of Rs. 8 to 10 lakhs for its de-addiction Centre, "Duva". The State Social Welfare Advisory Board gives it an annual grant ranging between Rs.5000 and Rs.10,000. But funds constraint poses a major problem for the SSGS ...
