ASHA-MIT
Project: VISA - Non-Formal education for school dropouts.
Organization:
Village Improvement Service Association (VISA)
Contact:
Mr. S.V. Vinayagamoorthy
President and Director, VISA
Location:
Mosavadi Village, Pemamallur, S.O.604503
Vandavasi Taluk, T.V.Malai District. TN.
Summary:
The project is involved in providing non formal
education cum life education is provided to poor school dropouts children
in the age range of 10 to 17 years. The children will be given three years
of non formal schooling and will be prepared to write fifth grade state
exams there by enabling them to have minimum primary education.
They are also planning to provide vocational training to them once they
complete their primary education.
Funding:
In the year 1997 an amount of 97,603, rupees was given for the project.
The following project proposal that we received is for three years to cover
the recurring expenses. The amount requested is 97,640 rupees per year.
Salary for non formal education Instructors 18,000
One Assistant instructor salary 12,000
Part time Instructors salary Rs. 50 per
session per day for 26 days in a month for 12
months. 15,600
Training for instructors 3,000
Learning materials 9,000
Cultural and sports competitions 6,000
Nutrition Rs. 1.50 per child per day. 14,040
Uniforms Rs. 300 per set (two sets for 30
children). 18,000
Stitching Charges 3,600
Miscellaneous 6,000
Total 1,05,240
Expenditure met by parents 7,600
Total amount requested from Asha 97,640
Comments:
Vinay - Basically the project is a repeat of the project we funded during
June 96 - June 97. As a result the following questions were raised in the
projects meeting held on Feb 14, 1998.
1. What has been the progress of the students in their studies since they
started attending your school? When will the students be ready to leave
the school and when they do leave, what kind of work are they likely to do
or get?
2. Are there new students in your school this year? If not, then are there
plans of admitting new students? If so, what is the strength of the class
now and what is it going to be when you receive new funds?
3. You have requested funds for a part-time instructor who will teach every
single working day throughout the year and will get Rs. 50 per day. What does
he teach? Is he really needed? With the amount being spent on a part-time
instructor can you not hire another assistant instructor?
4. Some part of the budget goes for training of the 2 instructors already
present and who have been trained with Asha funds in the last year. What
training do they get? Why do they need re-training?
5. You mention that you have plans to provide vocational training. Please
give us some details of this training.
6. You have asked for funds for uniforms again. Is it really needed?
Vinay - We received a detailed response to all our questions along with
information and photographs about students, teachers and the activities
in their school. This was discussed in the projects meeting of April 25, 98.
In brief, the situation is that VISA has a vision stretching for about 5 years
where they envision their students (who were dropouts and hardly exposed to any
formal education) to acquire the skills of a class 5 student and also learn
some vocational skills that would help him/her in having a source of livelihood.
In the first year of Asha funding the students have achieved basic literacy
and in the subsequent year will move towards higher classes and vocational
training. VISA seeks to bring in specialized instructors (the part-time
instructor) to provide the specialized training the children need.
It looks like they have long-term plans for their students and this project
could serve as an important benchmark for establishing long-term
relationships with our projects in India.
We approved the project with a vote of 6 for, none against and 2 abstaining.
We will fund the project for 3 years but on a yearly basis and contingent
on us receiving periodic reports on their progress.
Their requested amount of Rs. 97,640 per year comes to $2460 per year.
The amount will be disbursed in two six-monthly installments of
$1230.
History:
Completed Funding for the period June 96 - June 97.
New Proposal received around December 97.
Discussed in Projects Meeting on Feb 14, 98.
Discussed in Projects Meeting on April 25, 98.
Summarized:
Mumtaz Feb. 14, 1998.
Vinay K April 25, 1998
Status:
Approved for funding for 3 years on a yearly basis and contingent
on us receiving periodic reports on their progress. Premnath's parents
will be visiting soon and giving us a report. Vinay will send the first
check of $1230 to VISA.