Educational Initiatives

PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN (Supported by MISSION MUNCHEN)

Education of the children is the foundation for the overall development of any nation. However, education is not accessible to all. The poor economic background of the family is the major cause for child labour. TSSS has contributed a lot to liberate child labourers. Though child labour is banned by law, the practice exists all over the country in some form or other. Hence, TSSS approached MISSIO MUNCHEN, which had generously extended its support to the project since April 2009.  

The main component of the project is to run the Non-Formal Education Centres. It included supplementary education, extracurricular activities and life coping skills. The programme generated mass awareness of the impact of child labour. The teachers served as the Front Line workers in identification, making referral services and mainstreaming them into formal or non-formal education centres.

Balwadi Schools (Supported by TSSS)

TSSS at present runs 17 Balwadies with nearly 544 children. Balwadies have been started in remote villages where the government does not have Anganwadies. Special trainings are offered to Balwadi Teachers. Following services have been delivered to the children in the balwadies.

In order to strengthen the school activities, following measures are taken regularly: 

NON-FORMAL EDUCATION CENTRES: 

TSSS continues to run the non-formal schools for educating weaker students and child laborers. They are gradually mainstreamed into the formal system of education. Poor students are enabled to enhance their performance in these centres. Some of the centres are maintained by the local SHGs themselves. Altogether, there are 25 centres. They are mainly located in villages where child labouers are present in a considerable number. The tuition center functioning at our office premise at Palayamkottai provides evening tuition for the economically weaker students in the city. 

The NFE centres offer literacy and life coping skills, through Play-way methods, Experimental learning, Exposure visits and Competitions. The progress of the children studying in NFE centres are reviewed once in six months. Cultural programmes and talent shows are held on special occasions. The Review, Planning and Training meeting of Teachers are organized every month.

Refresher training to NFE teachers:  

Refresher courses always help teachers to update their knowledge, skills and attitudes. Moreover, the latest techniques in teaching and methods of facilitating learning are imparted to teachers. NFE teachers are given trainings on Child Rights and Protection and Understanding Children – their needs, interest and approach. These training enable the teachers to understand the problems of children, the root causes of these problems, outcome of the problems, the possible strategies to address the causes and protect children against all forms of violence, insecurity, stress etc. 

Summer Programme for Children:

This is a special programme to entertain as well as develop the  interest of the children in attending the NFE classes. The main aim of this programme is to encourage the NFE centre children and to attract the other child labourers to join in the NFE centres. Some of the programmes designed and carried out were the following: 

The performance of each centre was assessed and ranked to create healthy competition and interest. The first three NFE centres, which performed well, are awarded. The local men and women associations make necessary arrangements along with the NFE centre teachers to organize the summer programme. 

Revolving Fund for Income Generation Programmes: 

It was learnt that the main reason for children turning as child labourers was the pathetic economic condition of the families. Due to utter poverty and debt crisis, the poor and marginalized families are forced to send their children to work to supplement the income of the poor parents. 

The children toil 12 to 15 hours a day and they bring home a very meager income. These working children are deprived of education, entertainment and leisure. The only way to redeem these children is to enhance the income of the families and liberate them from all sorts of bondage. Hence, TSSS identified the most deserving 55 families and supported them to carry out petty trades / Income Generation Activities. Priority was given to the zones where child labour was wider.  A total amount of Rs.500000/- was disbursed to the beneficiaries. 

Generation of Education Fund at Zonal Level: 

TSSS encouraged the staff and federation leaders to create an education fund to help the children hailing from very poor families. To boost the interest of the federations in mobilizing the fund, a matching grant of 50% of the amount collected was given. It is remarkable to note that the four zonal federations have mobilized a total amount of Rs.362836 up to March 2010. A set of by-laws have been formulated with the participation of the members of SHGs and beneficiaries of the programme for efficient management of the Fund. 

Mass Awareness Programme

With a view to sensitize the public on the need and importance of education of their children, mass rally was organized in selected blocks and villages. The members of SHGs and Farmers associations were actively involved in the process. The youth clubs in the nearby villages too were invited to participate in the rally. Around 500 to 800 people participated in the rallies organized at Block levels. 

Cultural programs to create awareness: 

With the prime objective of sensitizing the public, especially the parents of child labourers and the victims of child labour practices, TSSS conducted cultural programmes at Zonal levels. Each programme included a variety of cultural items such as awareness songs, role plays, street theatre, dance and folk arts. 

The core themes of the cultural programme: 

FORMAL EDUCATION

VINNARASI INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL (SCVT APPROVED) – KAYATHAR

Vinnarasi Technical Training Centre (VTTC) was started at Kayathar in 1988 to give vocational training to the rural boys and girls.  It was mainly created for the purpose of providing vocational training to the redeemed child labourers in the target areas and it was up grated to State Counsel of Vocational Training (SCVT).  The association members are identifying the drop out students and the redeemed child labourers and they are motivated to join in the vocational training. 

Particulars of students enrolled and trained

VALANAR ACADEMY OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE – NCVT – KURUVIKULAM

Valanar Academy of Vocational Training Centre (VAVTC) was established on 3rd July 1996 at Kuruvikulam to reduce the child labour problem prevailing in that area. In fact, the original idea emerged from the community based organizations that work for the cause of the redeemed child labourers. 

Objectives: To give employment oriented technical education in various trades to the former child labourers and rural youths in order to create confidence in their life to lead a decent life in the society.

NCVT Courses

Over all championship of District Sports Competition has been retained by our Institute for the last 5 year.

FREE SHORT TERM COURSES: 

Valanar ITI has been one among the reputed technical training institute recognized and approved by the Government of Tamilnadu for conducting short term certificate courses in selected trades. The certificate is issued by the Government to the students who complete the course successfully. The scope for potential employment is wider to those candidates who obtain the certificate. Following are the trades offered at the ITI.

PALAYAMKOTTAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE:

Community college was started in the year 1988 at V.M. Chatram. This college is affiliated to M.S. University. The main thrust is to empower the poor, downtrodden, underprivileged and marginalized sections of the society through skill development leading to gainful employment. 

From this academic year onwards two additional diploma courses affiliated to Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) were introduced along with other courses.

CHALLENGES IN OUR ENDAVOUR:

FUTURE PLAN:

A survey to find out drug addicts dropouts and all other socio-economic conditions of the slum dwellers. 
Based on this report we have planned to start vocational training programmes for the eligible dropouts. These programmes would be more flexible to suit their real life situations.

St. Antony’s Public School (CBSE), V. M. Chathram