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Education Support Organisation (ESO):"Gyan Shala" - Education for Empowerment

As is common knowledge, illiteracy and poor quality of available education are two of the most burning issues in India. Also, it is to be noted that primary education has been the most neglected area in education. It is with this in mind that Education Support Organisation (ESO) came up with the idea of Gyan Shala.

Gyan Shala is a project that focuses on providing high-quality primary education for disadvantaged children. Their aim is to target as many primary level children (initially class I,II,III) as possible and provide them with quality education at a minimum cost. Once they complete these 3 years, these children will be good enough to compete with the children in regular schools. The difference of this organization is in its approach. Instead of building a full fledged school, rooms will be rented that are spacious enough to hold a teacher and 30 children. The syllabus is specially designed so that they will be at par with state and central syllabi. Junior and Senior (High School) students are equipped to teach younger students and are employed to do so.

Hence, there is ample opportunity to impart education and to perpetuate the project on a low cost basis. Such an approach also provides necessary employment to the unemployed youth as teachers. Further, the children's parents will be charged a nominal fee to maintain electricity and rent costs.

30 classes have been started in 24 villages of the Dhrangdhra and Patdi talukas of Surendranagar district. This district was also affected by the earthquake. Around 1000 children have already been attending classes since June. The cost of this project is estimated to be USD 105,000 for 3 years. This is the second project being conducted by ESO in India having started schools in the slums of Ahmedabad about 2 years ago. The schools in Ahmedabad have been a resounding success.

Please note that the Gyan Shala concept has already been successfully implemented in Bangladesh with over 50,000 children being educated in this manner. Dr.Pankaj Jain,the head of ESO, was the consultant expert for that project. He also performed some research studies there that have been published.

VIDE has agreed to fund this project in stages. Funding is contingent upon satisfactory execution by Education Support Organization. Progress of the project is monitored every 6 months in the form of visits by independent monitors, photos, videos etc.

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Project Owner :
Murali Gandluru

Contact in India:
Dr. Pankaj Jain
Gyan Shala Project Core House,
Near Parimal Garden, Ellis Bridge,
Ahmedabad - 380009, India.
Ph: 079-6461629

and

302, Indian Institute of Management
Ahmedabad, India
Ph: 079-6306381