Learning and earning at the same time

In a school with a total strength of 800, about 60 per cent of the students are employed in some part-time job or devote a considerable amount of time in their family trade. Most of the students reside in the Parshuram No Bhatto, Jetalpur, Patra ni Chawl and other nearby slums.

The division of time and attention by the students between earning and studying hampers the performance of the students. However Arvind Patel, a teacher at the school says, “It is satisfying that at least the students come to school to study. If we badger them too much about performance, they may discontinue attending classes altogether.” Besides lagging in performance, some of the students do not even attend their school regularly and eventually drop out.

The teachers, however, go beyond their duty of just teaching in classrooms and visit the families to convince them to start sending their children to school again. C C Pancholi, one of the senior teachers, says, “Sometimes we succeed in our efforts but often it is difficult for the parents to spend Rs 40 per day from their meagre income to send their child to school for ten years.”

Sanjay Gohil, student of Standard X works, from 10 am to 11:30 am at a farsan shop at the state transport depot and then comes to school at 12 noon. After the school is over at 5 pm he is back at the shop and works there till 11:30 pm, helping the owner in odd jobs. For all this, Sanjay is paid Rs 500 per month and, more importantly, two square meals. In spite of being in Std X, a crucial year, he cannot discount working at the farsan shop since that is where he gets his meals. Sanjay accepts that he needs to work hard in mathematics, but cannot find time. Anyway, he is going to quit studies after completing Std X. The school has many Sanjays who have been forced by circumstances to work at an age when they should be playing and studying.

Says Principal Dave, “The school has classes till Std X, and more than 40 per cent of the students drop out after that and take up their previous part-time work on a full-time basis.”

One commendable thing about these students is that those who work and support their families are proud of it. Says Mohsin Sindhi, student of Std VIII, “I earn Rs 300 by delivering newspapers; I can pay my fees and contribute to my family’s income. I have younger brothers and sisters to take care of.” Even the peers are supportive about those who earn and learn simultaneously. Say Mohsin’s friends, “He plays great cricket and can become like Sachin Tendulkar in future.”

The school was started by Ramesh Dave, a leading businessman of the city, in memory of his father Rasiklal Dave in 1969. Soon, it will move into a new building nearby where the students will have more amenities. Says Ashit Dave, member of the trust, “My father takes keen interest in the activites of the school and that is one way we can assure that students from underprivileged classes can acquire education.”