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Reality
Reality 1
Reality 2
Reality 3
Reality 1

Magnitude of the problem
Do you know that:

- There are 48,000 schools in the state catering to
  9 million children.

- 90% of the children study in State run or aided
  schools.

- Bangalore City which has less than 10% of the
  population of the State has two school districts -
  north and south.

- Bangalore South alone has 2000 schools, needing
  further division into three zones - 1, 2 and 3.

- Bangalore South 1 covering less than 100 sq km
  has 1000 schools of which 500 are with or aided
  by Government.

- We have adopted just 7 of these schools, with a
  total of 2200 children!!!

The problem, thus looked at, does appear immense.

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Reality 2

An Oppressive Environment: How Can A Child Grow?

Experience
- School buildings are usually bare, often
  dilapidated.

- Teacher shortage, overcrowded classes, grade 1
  usually neglected.

- Teaching activity is of short duration, teachers are
  often diverted to other activities

- Few teaching aids used, alien curriculum,
  unimaginative delivery of teaching content

- Copying and cramming are the most common
  teaching methods.

- No craftwork or colour or music; physical activity is
  rarer still.

- Gender bias; quiet discrimination against children
  of disadvantaged background.


Effect
- Going to school is neither attractive nor
  stimulating for the child; boredom is the result

- Children play or fight among themselves; puzzled
  and bored and switched off, especially the
  younger ones.

- Spoils chances of success especially for first-
  generation learners

- Child's self-esteem hurt - "I am not important and
  neither is learning."

- Child repeatedly experiences the burden of non-
  comprehension and with it a sense of shame.

- No stimulation for a thinking mind to develop or for
  self-confidence to grow.

- Further marginalization of underprivileged
  children.

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Reality 3

Cost of elementary education
Contrary to popular belief, elementary education is anything but free. The average cost of sending a child to school at the primary level is roughly as follows:

NSS estimate of 1986/87 (without clothing expenses) : Rs 212
PROBE estimate 1996 : Rs 318
NCAER estimate 1994 : Rs 478


If these figures are updated for the current year, one is likely to arrive at Rs 500 or more per annum per child, which is not an insignificant amount by any standards.

This only stresses the need for close monitoring and effective control / accountability for the expenditure.

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