TURKSTFN —–TURKHACKTEAM—–
HACKED
April 1 and 4, 2013
At the time of the implementation of the RTE act in 2010, three years deadline has been set by the government of India for complete implementation of the act. This three years deadline expired on March 31, 2013 but in these three years no significant change in the education sector was visible.
March 2013
JOSH along with VOS and supported by Oxfam, India had undertaken a project on six slums of Delhi to make the people in these slums understand the importance of RTE act and its provisions. Here volunteers of various premier educational institute like IIT,Delhi, Delhi School of Economics, St. Stephans College etc took active part in proper completion of this project.
Computer Literacy Program
Basic knowledge of computers is increasingly gaining importance in today’s world and also a factor affecting who gets access to opportunity. For the slum children, computer and English has become a ticket to their dream life. Thus, there is huge demand for access to such knowledge and skill. And given that these children have no access to computers in schools they are forced to look at private coaching institutes which are often too expensive and beyond their reach.
With the on-going formation of School Management Committees or SMCs all over Delhi, several organizations have taken steps in strengthening its value by conducting training programs for both the elected representatives and the non-members. The main aim of the training program is to provide knowledge and awareness to all participants about how certain functions of the SMCs can be performed effectively.
Last 18 February, JOSH welcomed two young ambassadors for the Global Campaign for Education UK, Sam Whittingham and Millie Wells. Both were from Ringwood School in Hampshire, United Kingdom and were recipients of the Steve Sinnott Award, a grant funded in memory of the passionate “Education for All” advocate who passed away last 2008.
Continuing the tradition, JOSH welcomed hundreds of spectators last February 17, 2013 to celebrate the tradition of the community theater festival for the people – Aaina.
Aaina, which literally means a mirror, is an annual theater festival that serves as a venue for community members, activists, development workers, journalists, theater groups, and volunteers to bring to life social issues that need to be addressed.
Like all other girls living in a Muslim community, Rukshar clams up when speaking with strangers. “That is our way,” she notes and this has been the case ever since she can remember. No one dares to challenge the norm in their colony but she was one of the few who braved joining the free computer literacy classes offered by JOSH (Joint Operation for Social Help) in ts resource centers in the East Delhi resettlement colony in Trilokpuri.
The Delhi Government, finally responding to complaints by parents harassed by private school managements that have been blatantly violating nursery admission guidelines, has warned schools to fall in line or risk ‘strict action’.
The Directorate of Education (DOE) issued a seven-point circular on Saturday (January 12) warning schools against having unreasonable and discriminatory admission criteria as such educational background of parents, arbitrarily fixing upper-age limits, denying admission forms to children from the economically weaker sections (EWS) on the basis of neighbourhood criterion, forcing parents to buy the prospectus of the school, holding parallel admission processes for the primary and pre-schools sections and violating the directive on minimum seats at the entry level.
Delhi University students will soon come up with a study on the implementation of the Right to Education Act in six districts of Delhi.
Working as volunteers with the Joint Operation for Social Help (JOSH), an NGO that has done extensive work in the field of RTE in the city, close to 50 students have conducted a survey. They interacted with 1,200 people in various parts of the city to assess the implementation of the landmark law.
“The apex court intervention is welcome, but that’s just half the job done.”
Vinod Kumar had dreamt of sending his youngest daughter, three years-old Suhavi, to a private English medium school. He has three children and his two elder sons are studying at a government school in Trilokpuri in East Delhi. When the admission process for the economically weaker section (EWS) started in January this year, he had applied in 12 schools including Ahlcon Public School, Evergreen School, Salwan Public School in the area.
