Quality Education for the Marginalised Rural Children and youth
AIDA believes that every child has the right to Quality education and that, Quality education should lead to empowerment: a process of strengthening individuals and communities so they get more control over their own situations and environments. The organization is thus, committed to facilitate the process of empowerment of the rural poor by taking on the task of ensuring quality education to every child in 90 rural villages across Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
The primary focus of the education projects is to ensure enrolment of every child below 14 years to school, improve their learning levels through additional support programs and prevent school dropout through mentoring and follow up. But also provides other learning platforms and technologies by setting up libraries, smart class room, science and computer labs. The projects also provide basic literacy to out of school vulnerable youth above 15 years to enhance the quality of their lives.
Three, out of six education projects intervenes in the existing education system - Anganwadi Centers and Government Primary schools through awareness and capacity building programs for Anganwadi workers, teachers, parents, village leaders and School Management Committees; networking and advocacy with concerned government departments and other likeminded groups to address the several stumbling blocks on the road to achieving the goal of universal education in the country.
Specific education support programs:
Over 2000 children (7-14 years) are supported annually through after school supervised study program. This programme runs in 36 rural villages across 5 districts of Manipur, in 31 Tea garden villages across 6 districts of Assam and 5 villages in Dimapur under the Chumukedima subdivision.
Over 800 school dropouts (7-14 years) are provided remedial education and are mainstreamed annually through Intensive Course Program. The beneficiaries are from 36 rural villages across 5 districts of Manipur and in 31 Tea garden villages across 6 districts of Assam.
Over 600 out of school youth (15-25 years) are provided basic literacy, numeracy and life skills annually through Community School Program (CES) implemented in 20 rural villages of Bishnupur, Imphal East and Imphal West, Manipur and in 31 Tea garden villages across 6 districts of Assam.
Over 200 matric students (15-20 years) are given coaching classes annually through Special Matric Coaching program in Tamenglong and Noney districts of Manipur. The coaching classes have been a great help to the students appearing for their board exams every year. It has enabled students to face their public exams with confidence and preparedness.
Over 1500 Anganwadi children (3-6 years) are supported through Anganwadi intervention program, implemented in 12 villages of Longding district, Arunachal Pradesh and in 16 villages of Tamenglong and Noney districts, Manipur.
Over 900 government school students and 800 village people are empowered through Child Rights education program. 60 children’s parliaments are formed in government village schools and community study centres’ of AIDA in the states of Manipur, Assam and Nagaland promoting the children’s entitlements.
30 children are engaged in learning through Digital Night School in a remote village of Manipur. Mini-iPads are provided and Learning is facilitated by a teacher. This method of education creates more interests in the children.
1079 students were assisted in their high school studies through education sponsorship program in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur. This education programme is supported by Fratelli Dimenticati ONLUS. This programme assists the students either through and schools or the hostels.
Over 300 children are provided basic literacy and other skills through Boscome Slum School, Dimapur. Bosocome School provides an opportunity to the deprived sections of the society to avail free education. They are also provided with the uniforms, text books and note books. Don Bosco Mondo and Fratelli Dimenticati supports the cause of these children.
Adult Women Literacy
Mothers are given basic education in 5 villages through Adult literacy programme in Tamenglong District of Manipur. The adult learners are very enthusiastic, interested and highly motivated about their learning. This special programme runs as part of the Rural Education and Appraisal Programme (REAP)