COMMUNITYRAPPORT FOR UNIVERSALIZATION OF QUALITYPRIMARY EDUCATION
Dr. Mendhekar
Dattatrya Parshuram
Education
Extension Officer,
Block Education
office, Panchayat Samiti Osmanabad 413501Maharashtra
M0b. 9421379907
ABSTRACT
Education is change in behavior. We get experiences at home, in the
society and through social interactions and healthy social relationships. These
shape human behavior along the direction desired. It is necessary to study the
nature of society to understand the factors, institutions and forces which
influence the behavior of an individual. In short a teacher should be both a
philosopher and a sociologist.
INTRODUCTION :-
Community Rapport is the ability to
secure the co-operation and participation of the community by crating
awareness, affinity and a feeling or responsibility in the community for the
all-round development of the school. The school is a social institution .Its
function is to impart education for the all-round development of children.
Expectations and aspirations of the society are fulfilled through the school.
Various schemes are being implemented by the Government from time to time to
improve the quality of education. Schools also organize many activities.
However an unattractive school atmosphere, inadequate educational aide,
irregular attendance of pupils, insufficient physical facilities, scarcity of
sports equipment etc., hamper the desired progress of the school and the
all-round development of pupils. It is therefore essential to provide all the
essential infrastructure and facilities necessary for the development of the
school with the co-operation of the community. Unless there is a sense of
ownership in the community it will not share the responsibility for the development
of the school.
Efforts
made by the Government will be fruitful only with the willing support of
society. Hence it is necessary to develop awareness in society regarding the
objectives of education, and a feeling, co-operation, participation and responsibility
in helping achieve the objectives. To achieve the community’s support, the
school should always try to strengthen its rapport with the community. By
gathering information about the community, its people customs, traditions,
culture, festivals, information about the community, its people, customs,
traditions, culture , festivals, and by maxing with the community whenever
possible, the school can bring the community close, The school should also
undertake activities which are useful to society. The co-operation of the
society in turn will be valuable to the school in acquiring essential
facilities and in performing the educational tasks successfully.
The
progress of the school and the community are mutually dependant. They are also
supplementary to each other. School Management Committees are established as a
connecting link between the school and society. These committees are very
important and powerful media for involving the community in the development of
the school.
Components
of Community Rapport :-
ENROLMENT:-
The enrolment of all children,
especially children of weaker and deprived sections such as boys and girls of
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and
Vimkut Jatis from the catchment area of a school should be ensured.
Firstly a General meeting of the villagers should be arranged with the help of
school management committee. Special efforts should be made to ensure larger
participation of women and youth from the village. The importance of primary
education, especially the education or girls should be emphasized in the
meeting. In addition, the nature of the enrolment drive should be explained. An
appeal should be made to the community for getting the spontaneous and whole heated participation and Co-operation
of villagers, Suggestion made by the villager for an effective enrolment drive
should be respected.
The
school teachers should undertake a survey of children in the age group 6 to 9
years through door-to door visits with the co-operation of SMC members.
The
enrolment of all the boys and girls listed in the survey report should be
completed before the opening day of the school keeping in mind that a task Well
begun is half done’ An enrolment festival should be celebrated to welcome
children to the school on the very first day. The senior pupils should welcome
the new entrants by offering them flowers By decorating the school and
distributing sweets to all children, a joyful atmosphere should be created. All
young and old, males and females from the village should participate in the
festival. Especially the parents of the
new comers should attend the festival. A feeling of closeness and respect for
the school and teachers will be developed in them after witnessing how their
children are welcomed, loved, and treated nicely on the very fist day of
school. Children too, will be attracted
to the school as a result of the above measures.
1.
Attendance :-
It is necessary that
teachers, parents and the community should make joint efforts to ensure that
all new-comers attend school every day, come on time, remain present both
physically and mentally during school hours, and view the school with the same
enthusiasm as on the first day of school. A review of attendance by pupils
should be taken rigorously in every monthly meeting of the school management
Committee. A list of pupils who are
frequently or continuously absent in school should be prepared. A meeting of
parents of such pupils should be arranged with the members of SMC to persuade
them to send their children regularly to school. During such meetings conscious
efforts should be made to understand the difficulties of parents and help them
to solve their difficulties through SMC members. The information about various
incentives given by the Government should also be given to needy parents. Such
joint endeavors will guarantee the regular attendance of children in school.
2.
Co-Operation
and Participation of the Community in improving the Quality of Education :-
The school is an
institution which is instrumental in the progress of society. The involvement
of the village is crucial for the development of the school. Villages have
immense human resources. There are retired people from various fields such as
Education, Agriculture, etc. In addition, there as local experts like Health
Officers, Military personnel, Technicians, Artists, etc. Their experience,
knowledge and services can be utilized for the development of the school and
for imparting “Quality /Education” Activities like staring a Study Room for
pupils in a village, Reading Room, Hobby Centres, Cultural Classes, etc., could
be undertaken with their initiative. In additional to this direct form of
accomplishment. The hidden potential of the village should be skillfully
utilized for the all –round development of children.
3.
Availability
of Physical Facilities :-
The contribution of the
community will be useful for providing facilities like school buildings,
play-grounds, compound wall, toilets ( especially for girls) school garden
tools and materials, furniture, water storage tank, sports equipment,.
Educational aids, musical instruments, etc. The school will be greatly
strengthened by the addition of a sound infrastructure.
4.
Participation
of the Community in School Management :-
It is essential to secure the participation and co-operation of
the community in the planning of educational programmes, their implementation,
and evaluation. Co-operation of SMC should also be sought for meeting the
short-term and long-term physical and academic needs of the school and in
planning activities like development of surroundings, sports competitions,
educational trips, cultural programmes, annual gathering etc.
Functions of
SMCs :
The SMCs are responsible for the
planning, implementation, and monitoring of various schemes in the area of
early childhood education and adult education. The main functions of the SMC as
mentioned in the Programme of Action of Maharashtra Stage are as follows.
1. Set
annual targets for enrolment, attendance, and retention of children.
2. Persuade
parents to send girls to school.
3. Supervise
the regular attendance of Headmaster in school.
4. Supervise
the regular attendance of teachers in school
5. Ensure
that the educational atmosphere in school is conducive to learning and
all-round development.
6. See
that educational aids ( e.g. radio, tape-recorder, material supplied under
Operation Black Board) are regularly and properly used the used by the teachers.
7. Make
efforts to provide essential physical facilities ( water storage tank, clock,
bell) for the school through community participation.
8. Distribute
attendance allowance, school uniforms, text books, etc.
9. Utilize
provisions available through the School Improvement Scheme for the purchase of
educational aids.
Useful
Activities for the Community :-
The development of the school is
brought about by the spontaneous co-operation and participation of the
community. In return the school can do a lot for the community through a number
of activities. This will help the community to come closer to the school and
also help the school in reaching out to the community. As a result the
community starts to indentify with the school and the school begins to consider
the community as its partner
1. Undertake
plantation and conservation of trees.
2. Ensure
cleanliness of class rooms, school premises, roads, public places, etc.
3. Help
needy pupils to get school uniforms, writing materials, medical help, etc.
4. Educate
illiterate adults.
5. Serve
and help the handicapped and the infirm ( Men, women, children ) and orphans.
Provide them emotional support to make them happy.
6. Make
people understand the importance of personal hygiene and public health, healthy
habits balanced and nutritious food, sports, entertainment, etc.
7. Raise
funds for helping parsons and society at the time of calamities.
8. Provide
academic guidance to under- achieving pupils by educationally advanced pupils
of upper classes either individually or in groups.
9. Visit
the homes of children who are either continuously absent from the school or
sick so that fellow pupils can help them as per their needs.
10. Serve
the community by doing simple tasks like writing or reading letters for an
illiterate person, and reading books, magazines or newspapers to them.
11. Help
voluntary agencies in their work.
12. Serve
as a volunteer in weekly markets, public celebrations, social functions etc.
and provide drinking water facilities wherever required.
13. Make
physical facilities of the school
available to the community for organizing various competitions, exhibitions,
and other useful programmes.
14. Make
the school playground available to children in the village for meaningful
activities.
15. Organize
carious programmes for the eradication of superstition and social malpractices.
16. Participate
in social festivals.
17. Undertake
voluntary labour ( Sharm daan) for repairing roads, leveling the grounds etc.
18. Organize
competitions for encouraging parents to send their children regularly to
school.
19. Organize
various competitions, sports and other events for the villagers.
Conclusion :-
Education is change in behavior. We
get experiences at home, in the society and through social interactions and
healthy social relationships. These shape human behavior along the direction
desired. It is necessary to study the nature of society to understand the
factors, institutions and forces which influence the behavior of an individual.
In short a teacher should be both a philosopher and a sociologist.
Reference :-
1.
Vassant Patil (Editor). Teacher competency
Inrichment (1999), Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and
Training , Pune.
2.
Voices
of Teachers and Teachers Educators, Volume one, issue one, National
Council for Teacher Education, (NCERT)
ministry of human resource development
Government of India, New Delhi.
