Village Open Schools

With a view to provide free tuition to the poor students of the locality, Shamayita Math started an open school from Classes I to XII at its premises. Dedicated teachers from various schools have been rendering voluntary service at the school which has been running successfully for the past ten years.

Centers have been setup in various villages for children in the age group of 4-12 years. Promising children from such schools are coopted into the full time Shamayita Convent School.

A case in point is the Village Open School centre in Dangapara – Bankura:

Collective social action was initiated by local youth to educate Scheduled Caste children of migrant and disadvantaged families of Dangapara. The village being situated in a remote area of Gangajalghati Panchayat these children were deprived of the Fundamental Right to education. Few philanthropic minded youth of the tribal village Kendrabonathol, a nearby village of Dangapara came forward as torch bearers to enlighten the lives of the children with education.

Shamayita Math took its step forward to help the youth with the support of Ambuja Realty and established Village Education Centre in May, 2009 in a temporary house with 14 boys and 17 girls. These 30 students were divided into four levels based on their age and learning ability and 4 regular and 2 guest teachers have been recruited. Gradually the West Bengal Primary School Examination Board course curriculum has been introduced.

The students are served free of cost including free school uniform, books, tiffin. A sum of Rs. 10 is being contributed voluntarily by parents to carry monthly stationary costs of the school.

As a result of our intervention, many students have started moving to formal school who due to absenteeism had to discontinue from formal school. Seeing a great response from the parents and children, some aged person of village Kendrabonathol have decided to donate their land to establish a school building in Dangapara with more inclusion of students.