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Night Schools
 More
than 250 night schools have been set up in 6 states of India that
includes Assam, Bihar, Orissa, Uttranchal, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
for the benefit of working children. Nearly 4000 girls and over
2,250 boys, who tend cattle during the day, attend these schools
after dark.
All the 250 night schools are powered by over 500 solar lanterns.
These lanterns are maintained by barefoot solar engineers.
Teaching aids and learning materials used in the night schools
are made from waste material. The schools are also equipped with
wooden science toys made by physically challenged youth.
Instruction is informal and the curriculum is focused on practical
knowledge and experience. Since most children tend cattle, they
learn basic animal husbandry, along with reading and math. They
are also provided with learner booklets which children take along
with them, while tending cattle in the day time at the grazing grounds.
Children attend night schools for five years.
"Night Schools of Tilonia"
Barefoot College, YouTube, September 2007
Village Education Committees
In all the 250 villages where night schools are situated, Village
Education Committtees have been established. Each Committee has
an average membership of 15-30 villagers including 5-10 women. The
Committees have their bank accounts at the nearest rural bank. Two
of its members along with one member from the College staff operate
bank accounts. The Committees are responsible for day-to-day administration
of the 250 night schools, purchase of teaching/learning material,
repairs and maintenance of night school buildings and disbursement
of honorariums to night school teachers. Members of the Committees
function in an honorary capacity. They hold regular monthly meetings
and encourage parents in their villages, to send children to the
night schools regularly, especially girls. The Committee members
are also trained in maintenance of simple financial records and
stock books. Children on the other hand monitor their own schoools,
by electing their own representatives.
Children's Parliament
The Children's Parliament controls and supervises the night schools.
It is based on the belief that giving power to the people who have
a vested interest in the school is the best way of ensuring its
success -- as well as making the children aware of political structure
and processes.
This form of education-related activism provides a heightened awareness
of the system, its workings, and avenues for redress of local grievances.
The Children's Parliament since its inception in 1993, has had
five terms of office. The Parliament has elected representatives
from night schools, situated in four districts of Rajasthan, covering
a geographical outspread of 700-800 square kilometres, from semi-arid
to the desert regions.
Teacher Training
Training is a very important aspect of the College's educational
programme. Workshops at the College's main campus or various field
centres help prepare barefoot teachers for the night schools.
Mobile Library
The Mobile Library goes from village to village. Children from
the night school or volunteers from the community issue books from
the library. Availability of reading material helps to establish
the habit of reading among the night school students.
Social Work and Research
Centre
Tilonia, Rajasthan, India
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