JOIN USUniversity gives a ray of hope for school dropouts in Aligarh
Sujhata Verma (name changed), 28, wanted to be a teacher. However, her frequent asthma attacks coupled with abject poverty made it difficult for her to realise the dream. Like other children, her life also began on a good note and she got enrolled in a government school at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
But, due to her poor economic conditions, she couldn’t afford the modern treatment and relied more on herbs and traditional medicines, which only worsened her condition forcing her to drop out after failing eighth standard.
During one of the awareness programme of the adult education centre of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Sujhata explained her problems to its director Seema Masood. She came up with an innovative idea which not only helped Sujhata but also other dropouts.
We decided to start a self-help group (SHG). About 40 girls contributed Rs 250 each and using the amount they bought raw materials for making cooking spices and the profit they earned by selling it was given to Sujhata for her medication. Then we thought that this group can support other dropouts and those who are unable to continue their studies because of poor financial conditions,” said Masood.
Now, Sujhata has realised her dream as she has become a primary school teacher after completing BA. The adult education centre aims at providing non-formal education to school drop outs. This centre is supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and AMU. “We try to bring students to the mainstream so that they can complete their studies and earn their livelihood. We have students who live independently now,” said Masood.
Belonging to a family of academicians, Masood tries innovative ideas like sending a survey team consisting of former and present students to surrounding villages to tap prospective students.
The teams go to villages to spread awareness about the importance of education. “In the last few months ,we have covered 176 villages and approximately 50,000 people. We emphasised the importance of education and tried to convince the people that it is never too late for a person to get educated. When family members have reservations about joining the adult education centre, we tell them about the SHG which would help them to earn for their families,” said Masood.
Eight years ago, 24-year-old Salma Tanveer was a student and now she teaches computer at the adult education centre. “The untimely death of my father forced me to drop out of school and take care of my family. I joined the centre in 2005 with the aim of taking my 10th class examination. As I progressed, I realised that I want to study further and also teach at the centre. I wanted to be an example for others to show what great transformation education can bring in their lives. Now, I have completed my MA in education and have applied for a mass communication course,” said Salma.
The aim of the centre, comprising 40 women, is to make them self reliant. The members are provided training in collaboration with the Post Harvest department of AMU agriculture faculty. The SHG, in the last one decade, has maintained its goodwill through its quality of products and its major customer is the hospital kitchen of medical college of AMU, where the quality of food has considerably improved and the consumption of the spices reduced . The purchasing of raw material, cleaning, grinding, packing, accounts keeping are being done by the members. This has helped in improving their decision making and making them more confident.
“Last year, we earned a profit of Rs 1.5 lakh by selling the cooking spices,” said Salma. “This SHG helps us to sustain ourselves and education here helps us in fulfilling our dreams,” Salma added.
Age is no barrier to learn as is being demonstrated by 30-year-old Muskaan Begum, a mother of three. She joined the programme with a determination to clear the 10th standard board exams. “Not being able to read and help kids in homework was embarrassing. I was looked down upon by my neighbours and I didn’t want to get embarrassed in front of my children also. So, I decided to join the adult education programme,” said Muskaan.
“I want to be an example to others that there is no age for learning, you should just have the determination to do it and anything is possible.”
The institute started in 1976 with the aim of bridging the gap between formal and non-formal education, giving a ray of hope to people who want to continue their studies. The SHG was launched in 2000. AMU provides a grant of Rs 1.94 lakh annually and another Rs 10 lakh per annum has been sanctioned by the UGC to the centre.
When asked about the future plans of the centre, Masood said, “on long term we shall try to educate more people as education is the best gift which a person can provide and we also plan to start a small scale industry of spices which would employ girls from remote villages and help them stand on their feet”.