Asha for Education

Project Brief: ACRD has identified 2 schools in Kamrap district of Assam that needed immediate attention. Initial aim of this project is to provice the infrastrure for these identied schools.
Project Type: Formal Schools (description)
Primary Focus: to go to formal school (description)

Secondary Focus: children of dalits/tribals

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact:
Stamford

Status: CURRENT
Project Steward: Anita Shah
Co-Steward: Bhargavi Ramamurthy
Project Partner(s): Sunita Changkakati
Project Address: Assam Centre for Rural Development - Bonpura and Borkuchi Schools
Assam Center for Rural Development, 29, PB Road
P.O.-Rihabari
Guwahati, Assam 781008
Tel: 091-361-2632672
Stewarding Chapter: Stamford

Nartap High School and Bonpura Primary Schools in the Kamrup district of Assam were started as venture schools in the 90’s. Bonpura primary school is situated about 50 km from Guwahati. Students belong to poor farm laborer families of people living below the poverty line. Besides attending school, the children help their parents at home and in fields. The community consists of about 150 families who belong to Scheduled Castes.

Nartap High School is about 40 km away from Guwahati. Students belong to poor cultivator families of people living below poverty line. Besides attending school, the children help their parents at home and in farm fields. The predominantly farming community comprises 250 families. They belong mostly (~90%) to the Karbi tribe which is recognized as a Scheduled Tribe. The remaining 10% belong to Scheduled Castes, other backward communities and "general category".

In 2003, Asha Stamford decided to provide support for these 2 schools. Until this time, these schools were supported primarily by local communities. Initial objective was to provide adequate resources to support the construction and extension of school buildings in Bonpura Lower Primary and Nartap High School. Since the 2005, Asha has also provided support in terms of salaries for the teachers. Ultimately, Asha has a vision of working with ACRD and the school management committees to set up vocational training. Presently, the education imparted is formal and the schools follow the state education board's curriculum.