From Exclusion to Inclusion: Pratishthan Learning Centre's solution for Out-of-School Children

“Today, I am working at a reputed company, pursuing my bachelor's from distance learning, and can fluently converse in English and Hindi. Mumma tells me I am the best speaker in the family and all the relatives are proud of my progress. I feel like I have finally established an identity and reputation for myself.” says Asha*, Alumni, Pratishthan Learning Centre.

In 2011, after founding Lotus Petal Foundation our first intervention was distribution of shoes, caps and socks to underprivileged students studying in a school near my home. However, in 2012, while distributing fresh pair of shoes to the students we noticed something unusual. Some of the students in the school were much older, yet they were enrolled in a grade far lower than their age. Upon asking, one learnt that these were adolescent children studying in grade 5. The reason was that despite teacher shortages and infrastructure deficits, their parents, who are often employed as laborers, feel assured that their child is receiving at least one meal per day. Acutely aware that the formal schooling system would not enroll them ; to them, this was the best option that would lead to a better future.?

Seeing these children trapped in a system failing to see their worth created a churning inside of me and compelled me to reevaluate the way we approached the education system. This incident prompted the genesis of the Pratishthan Learning Centre (PLC) at Lotus Petal Foundation, a fast track education program designed to tackle the issues of fractured learning and early dropouts prevalent among poor adolescent children.?

But you see, the problem extends far beyond these children, affecting millions across India. In 2012, 60 million children aged 14-18 were out of school. Although the numbers have reduced, recent government data reveals that 1.2 million children remain out of school in India. Among them, approximately 9,30,531 dropped out at the elementary level and 3,22,488 at the secondary level. These adolescents come from extremely vulnerable sections of society and are deprived of opportunities, face exploitation and abuse and continue to live in poverty. The problem is only amplified when it comes to female students. At the core, it's an education system failing its most crucial beneficiaries – its students.

While most of us have attended an age-appropriate formal schooling system followed across the country, the trajectory is very different for a child hailing from a vulnerable socio-economic background. For them, the first brush with formal education comes as late as the age of 4.5 years. That's already 2.5 years behind a child enrolled in mainstream education!?

This learning-gap widens with age, poor quality of elementary education, lack of nutrition and parental guidance making their learning journey even more difficult.

The principle of learning is to read and write in elementary school, and then use these in later years to live a decent life. But this basic principle fails them. The ASER report of 2023 notes that only 25% of children aged 14-18 can read a standard 2 text, whereas over half of these children struggle to solve basic division problems. This skill is expected at 3rd and 4th standard. Unfortunately, the current education system is unable to prepare them for the real world.?

Through years of groundwork and immersing myself in studying the needs of young adolescent students, I have come to realize that there are multi-layered complex socio-economic challenges impacting the child's ecosystem directly. It obstructs their learning and ultimately forces them to drop out or receive an education that can never be utilized later on in their life.?

Therefore PLC's curriculum was devised keeping in mind their needs, aspirations and the fact that merely educating them is not enough.

The program's objective is to enable an out-of-school adolescent to be career ready in 5 years through a parallel intervention. The students complete Grades 6 to 10 in 3 years and in the next 2 years complete their Grade 12 examinations through NIOS. It envisions a life where our beneficiaries have limitless opportunities, from - becoming knowledge workers to higher studies; they can do anything. Traditional laboring jobs don't have to be their last resort anymore.?

The Salient Features of our Program are as follows :?

A multifaceted approach that provides nutritious meals, fast track learning curriculum and skill development training?

1. Fast track curriculum is aligned with the students fractured education background using the NIOS ( National Institute of Open School) board.
2. Building confidence, life skills, digital literacy and bi-lingual communication skills through art, theatre, fitness interventions.
3. Providing comprehensive support to students and their families through parent orientation sessions and counseling. This enables them to better understand their needs and make informed decisions regarding their future.?
4. Skill development curriculum is embedded in the program with education aligned with government schemes and policies? (National Education Policy 2020)
5. Mainstreaming through Industry internships and corporate visits a part of the regular course curriculum. Resume making, mock interviews get them job ready.
6. Counselling support is provided post placement to assimilate into the mainstream.
7. Success is measured by tracking alumni's progress for ten years after their program exit. (This includes their transition to mainstream college or skilled jobs, starting families, and enrolling their own children in mainstream schools)

The current education system largely focuses on either of the two things - education or skill training. The majority of K12 educational organizations put the onus of higher education/career planning and guidance on parents or tutors, but at PLC, we recognize that our beneficiaries don't have the luxury of time, given their background, so we ensure that we maximize their learnings and training through our customized approach. For us, the goal remains to bridge the gap between skills and education through hand-holding, mentoring and facilitation. We do not rest till our alumni enter a skilled job or college, ensuring their life is transformed for the better.?

The PLC Model has been in place for 11 years now, and our alumni, especially female students, have experienced a monumental change in their lives. One of our very own, Akanksha*, graduated from the fast-track program in 2021 and is currently working with our organization as a student intern. Hailing from a low-income family, she was studying in a Hindi-medium school at a grade below her age level. After enrolling in the program, she was supported diligently by our teachers, who helped her adapt to the English medium and enabled her to overcome her stage fear and take charge. When describing the biggest transformation in her life after completing PLC, she joyfully exclaims -?

????????"Earlier, Papa was the sole breadwinner but after I started working, I have been able to extend help and provide a financial safety net.The happiest moment of my life was when I was able to cover the expenses of my sister's wedding. I felt empowered as an individual, as I was able to fulfill my duty to family and self."?

Similarly many of our students have reported that PLC's holistic approach has enabled them to become financially independent, resilient, empowered, skilled and confident to dream and fulfill their aspirations. Out of 111 alumni, 56 of our alumni are already employed and working as knowledge workers. They are earning 2x per capita income, which has enabled them and their families to envision better lives for themselves and their future generations.?

While we have seen the enduring impact of the program on the lives of our beneficiaries, we have often wondered how we can lead the change for poor adolescent children across India. As we have been running the program for the past 11 years, below are some of the ways we think the program can be scaled up:

1. Since our program largely caters to the migrant population, many such different urban areas can be identified in the country, state-wise and district wise, where such centres can be set up, thereby allowing the children who drop out of the school system in one state/district, have the option and availability of coming back to the system and complete education in a fast-tracked fashion
2. Given the challenge of dropout is significant for girl children, this program can be targeted in areas, where the challenge is monumental. Given our holistic and contextual approach, it can be further contextualized, as per need to facilitate many more girls to finish their schooling and become knowledge workers.
3. Technology could play a game-changing role here, as the children who become a part of this program are not so small; thereby, it can be effectively leveraged to impart education to them. This will not only make them digitally literate, which is the need of the hour but also a part of the intervention, thereby achieving a multi fold objective.?

The solution of Pratishthan Learning Centre is one of the many evidence-based approaches to addressing the issue of out-of-school children in India. As development sector professionals, what are some innovative models in education that you have heard of or come across in recent times??

We would love to know more about it in detail in the comment section below.?

Resources used:?

1. https://www.ispp.org.in/open-schooling-an-alternate-education-pathway-for-out-of-school-children/
2. https://www.solas.ie/f/70398/x/64d0718c9e/solas_fet_strategy_web.pdf
3. https://www.businesstoday.in/india-at-100/story/inclusive-india-2047-empowering-the-demographic-dividend-395359-2023-08-24
4. https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf
5. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/over-1-2-million-students-out-of-school-most-of-them-at-elementary-level-govt-101675858595780.html
6. https://asercentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ASER-2023-Report-1.pdf