FAQ's -
Life Skill Education
1. How many adolescent girls have completed the Life Skill Education (LSE) course in the villages that the Foundation works in?
Till date over1000 girls have successfully completed the course in the different villages. This year 260 girls have graduated from the LSE center.
2. Describe the girls who are enrolled in the Life Skill Education course.
The Foundation works with both school-going girls as well as dropouts. In Mewat, educating the girl child ranks last on the list of priorities. The girls are mostly sent to madrassas or if they do go to school, they usually drop out by the age of10 yrs.
3. What is the educational status of adolescent girls in Mewat?
The educational status of the girls in the villages is dismal. Most villages have only primary schools; girls drop out after completing or before finishing the primary level. Some girls never attend school at all, instead they are sent to madrassas. The education level varies from village to village and is usually between 5 to 20%.
4. What is the average age of marriage in Mewat?
Girls as well as boys are married off at an early age. The average age at marriage is as low as 14 years for girls and 17 years for boys. To make matters worse, these young couples are scarcely aware of reproductive health and family planning issues
5. How many hours per day do the girls have to spend at the LSE center?
The girls have to spend approximately six hours per day at the LSE center. In our experience, this time-span is ideal for girls, who are completely illiterate, to achieve the minimum level of literacy and to complete the cutting and tailoring course. This duration also gives them an opportunity to hone their skills in cutting and stitching, thus enabling them to put these newly-acquired skills to use to earn small amounts of money. In addition, it also gives time to learn dari, carpet making, embroidery and knitting, which are taught to them from time to time.
6. What is the monthly fee for each girl?
The fee is Rs 25 per month. Initially, it is collected on a monthly basis, however once trust is built, the girls pay for the entire course in the beginning itself.
7. Have the girls been receptive to the issues of Reproductive Health (RH)?
The LSE course curriculum does not deal with issues on reproductive health in the beginning. It is only after a rapport is built and modules on self identity and communication etc. are addressed that the modules on RH are introduced. The first step is to take the mothers into confidence and only after clarifying all their doubts the sessions are conducted with the girls.
8. What are the criteria for choosing a LSE Instructor?
The candidate should have at least passed 8th Standard, must know cutting and tailoring and belong to the local area. The instructor should have good communication skills and leadership qualities as she will be required to interact with the community from time to time.
9. Have there been any changes among the girls who have attended the LSE course?
There has been a marked difference in attitude among the girls who have completed the LSE course. Here are some examples: |
- Menstrual hygiene has improved among the girls
- There has been an increase in knowledge (especially about themselves and of reproductive health), confidence and communication skills
- Bonding and friendships with the other girls at the center has enhanced
- There has been an increased participation in community projects
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10. What activities does the Foundation undertake with village schools?
As far as village schools are concerned our role is that of a catalyst. Since sustainability is a key issue the Foundation believes in strengthening the services provided by the Government instead of creating parallel institutions. The Foundation's main focus is: |
- Reviving and capacity building of the Village Education Committees (VEC) for the effective management of schools.
- Infrastructure support/development in the form of repairs and construction of boundary walls, class rooms, latrines, water tanks etc.
- Providing furniture, blackboards etc.
- In some cases the Foundation pays the salaries of middle school teachers on a short term basis, as this is a crucial period of the students’ future. In the long run the Foundation works with the VEC to fill the teaching vacancies by taking up the issue with the local authorities.
- Undertake environmental initiatives such as encouraging students to plant and look after fruit trees in their schools.
- Promote ‘Water Literacy’ in the village by constructing roof water harvesting structures in schools.
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11. What are the common problems that village schools face?
In a number of village schools, the teacher student ratio is dismal. Most schools do not have basic furniture, except for a table and a chair meant for the headmaster; there is no facility for drinking water, latrines and the blackboard is hardly legible. In addition, the consistent problem of low attendance and drop outs because of low motivation among the teachers needs to be addressed.
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