Education Outlook for Maharashtra 2011

According to the 2010 ASER Report, 67.7% of children in Std. II in Maharashtra can recognize numbers from 11-99 or perform operations. However, issues remain at higher level competencies – 58.6% of children in Std. V cannot do basic division.

Pratham in Maharashtra this Year

Geographical Coverage: 7257 villages across 45 BEPs
Children Reached: 195,194
Volunteers Mobilized: 11,472

• Pratham is currently running the Read India program through 4 DRCs and 10 BEPs, as well as an Urban Learning Centre (ULC) program, ‘Library’ program and Scholarship Program in Maharashtra. Formal written consent has been obtained by Pratham to teach in government schools in Ratnagiri, Nashik, Latur and Satara, whereas in Pune, Government school teachers are implementing Pratham’s Read India Program in schools. In the remaining blocks, in almost 75% of the villages, Pratham is running classes within Government Schools.
• As part of the EFE program, 55 cluster level centers have been started in one block each in 13 districts, offering computer courses to nearly 1405 volunteers.
• The ULC program in 11 cities runs on a tutorial model, providing coaching children of Std 1 - 10. There are currently 63 ULC’s, 190 Scholarship classes, 270 English classes, as well as 439 Libraries where children are taught to read. Of the 439 libraries, 239 libraries are run independently by the ‘librarians’. The Scholarship, Eglish and Library classes operate out of communities. Pratham pays teachers a small stipend.
• Pratham’s efforts extend beyond the classroom, reaching parents and local officials through meetings and melas to encourage communities and Village Panchayats (local councils) to focus on learning outcomes. 632 villages have passed resolutions to work towards improving quality of education among primary school going children and also about identifying and supporting volunteers.
  

Pratham Arora Centers for Excellence (PACE Programs)

• In order to train youth in marketable skills such as banking, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and hospitality, Pratham has set up training centres Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Latur, Nandurbar, Nashik, Ralegaon, Sangli, Satara, and Solan Solan.

Future Plans

• Pratham plans to set up PRATAP Centers (Pratham Training, Assessment and Placement Centers) to begin its transition to a post-secondary institution for volunteers and other youth.
• In the next few months, new rounds of training for Pratham staff and volutneers will occur. Pratham will also work towards building stronger partnerships with local government and parent-run School Management Committees (SMCs), an initiative set forth in the recent Right to Education Act.