Impact of Urban Education Complex in Promoting Education among the Tribals in Odisha

Abstract

The innovative approach of the state Govt., Urban educational programme for providing quality education for ST and SC students popularly known as 'Anwesha' is one of the noble and fruitful attempts for tribal education. The initiation of program in the year 2015 - 2016 has opened a new chapter in educational domain of ST and SC population. The objective of the scheme is to provide education to ST and SC children from remote rural areas in best of the public schools and take benefit of the quality education and facilities provided by public schools. The present study was undertaken with the objective to study the procedure of selection of ST and SC students adopted for the program and analyze its appropriateness to meet the requirements of the scheme, determine academic performance of Anwesha SC and ST students compared to Non-Anwesha students, find out the availability of infrastructures of the sampled schools like, teaching staff, school environment, materials of instructions, physical facilities etc. as contained in guidelines, ascertain extent of acclimatization of SC and ST students to the new environment of Urban Educational complex and find out gaps if any. The study covered eight districts of the state covering 24 schools with the sample of 752 comprising of principals, teachers, students, hostel superintendent, parent, community leaders and DWO of the respective districts. The study pointed out the grey areas like lack of pre primary education of Anwesha students as that of their urban counterparts, late admission to school in July-August where as their urban counterparts join in March-April. The other emerging issues in relation to implementation of Anwesha program are, process of selection of students, academic performance at public school, hostel life and parental co-operation.The drawback of the system is BPL card which has lost its relevance at present owing to significant changes, frequent visit of parents to take students home. The study observed that need for change/modification in selection process of students, performance level at public school, hostel management and co-operation of parents.The suggestions for improvement of program as recommended in the report are health certificate of students at the time of admission, use of socio-economic score instead of BPL card, pre-education like LKG, appointment of good tutor, increase in budget, undertaking by parents not to take children home frequently and synchronizing admission of Anwesha students with urban students. Number of methods to improve teaching like, adopting writing and reading skill, smart class, strict attendance and monthly parent meet need to be adopted to improve the performance of the students. For better infrastructure the suggestions include strengthening of library, story book, game material and computer lab etc.