The Work at REWARD
It is more urgent than ever to support a system that enables equitable access to quality education for every single child, regardless of his or her parents’ socio-economic status, caste, class. A headlong rush to privatization of education leads to a tiered education system where those with money get better access to better quality education, and those without money languish without opportunities. It leads to a system where the playing field is not level and inequality begets inequality generation after generation. If India’s economy has to grow, we need citizens who are aware, articulate, creative, and problem solvers. No country has achieved sustained economic growth without free education for all, from the United States to Singapore.
It is with the goal of working with children in government schools that Asha works with REWARD trust. REWARD’s model is simple – they add additional teachers in government schools. They hire teachers, appoint them to schools, and work with them throughout the year. They use three criteria to decide whether to work with a school:
(1) Teacher-student ratio lower than 1:40
(2) Lack of at least one teacher per class or section
(3) Lack of specific subject teachers.
REWARD now works with nearly 70 teachers in 40 government schools in primary, and, upper primary, and high schools in villages in Kancheepuram district.
Our impact
We are beginning to see the results of students graduating from the school and going on to college.