Site Visit Report – Champa Mahila Society visit (West Bengal, supported by Seattle)(Dr Padmanava Sen, AfE Bangalore volunteer and AfE Focus group coordinator – padmanava.sen@gmail.com – 22nd June 2018)

Snapshot: I reached Canning via Canning Local of 7-42 am from Sealdah, Kolkata and using the

bus to Jhorkhali, reached Sibganj at 10-15 am. Received by Mr Alauddin Laskar. I went to their campus and discussed different questions raised by Seattle.

I met the boys in their home supported by Seattle. Many of them had physical disabilities and I discussed what caused that. We discussed about their future plans

I went to the girls school around 11-45 nearby and spent till around 4 pm with students from different classes. Prabodh Karali accompanied me all along.

I spent 15 minutes with the residential girls supported by Seattle chapter. I spent 30 minutes with the teachers from the school before leaving for Canning.

Details:

Discussions with Amol Nayak Main projects with Asha Seattle are – the girl school (till Class 8) with 190+ students,

Amlamethi with 250+ students and residential support to 11 boys and 8 girls. Other than they have multiple projects supported by other sources.

I discussed about submitting detailed information regarding the special kids supported by Seattle. He shared the names (& I noted too) but detailed document will be given. All of them go to schools but tuition support is given at home.

There are two teachers’ trainings in a year for all teachers – one in Amlamethi, one in Sibganj. The trainings are given by Mr Amol Nayak and other educationist working with Govt. Schools. They teach joyful methods of teaching.

They will share the picture of sports materials once obtained after budget approval

Interaction with special boys The hostel was quite big. The schools were closed due to extended summer holidays.

Boys were taking bath and chitchatting. I met the 11 boys supported by Seattle. Three main causes of disabilities

o polio (apparently few years expired polio vaccines were given to kids causing many deaths and some polio affected kids)

o born with upside down toes and unsuccessful operations o damage caused by accidents in childhood and lack of proper medical facilities

left them with permanent damage of nerves I noted down some details about the students (Krishna +11)

o Krishna Halder- BA Gold medallist in Philosophy, Now doing MA (1st year) in Belur residential hostel, stayed in CMS hostel from Class 5th to 12th, wants to be an Assistant professor (giving SET exams), suffered from polio

o Gopal Purkayit – college with Bengali Hons (3rd year complete) in Sukanta college (Bhangankhali), in the hostel from Class 7th, wants to pursue MA, hand got damaged in childhood (falling from bed)

o Prosenjit Roy – BA History Hons 3rd year, Baghajatin college at Samua khali, in hostel since Class 4th, wants to pursue MA, leg is very weak post-operation (accidental damage) – asked for education support

o Jhantu Majhi – BA Bengali Hons, 3rd year, Sukanta college, in hostel since class 7th, half of the body has semi-paralysis after falling from a tree

o Mohidul Sardar – BA (pass course), 3rd year college in Pathakhali, in hostel since Clas 3, wants to pursue MA next, polio-related issue

o Alok Sarkar – 1st year BA (Bengali) in Sukanta college, in hostel since Class 2nd, toe related issue

o Saidul Sekh – Sundarban school , in hostel since class 6, polio related issueo Sanik Mandal – now in Class 12th, in hostel since Class 5o Saiful Sheikh – Class 4o Buddhadeb Majhi – Class 8 (junior high school), has toe-related issueo Sujauddin Sheikh – Class 6 (junior high), likes Math/ Englisho Mahanta Saradar – Class 6 (sundarban high school), accident caused damage

They mostly go to nearby school and colleges. They all have families but mostly in remote villages. Due to their movement restrictions, the location of hostel helped them to continue studies. Also they get additional tuition support.

Krishna holding his gold medallist certificate

Residential boys with and without me

The hostel

Visit to the girls’ school I visited the girl school next. There was a big room with Class 5 to 8th. There were two

rows of benches. The other room had Class 4 and below. There is a place to sit and eat mid day meals. Also there is a small staff room. I felt the need of a temporary partition in the room with girls of higher classes.

I spent 30 minutes with each class from Class 5-8th. I asked their names, their aspirations, and their self-analysis of inherent qualities (for class 8). I checked with some simple academic questions like quick math while buying vegetables, five birds in English, some sentences in English, earth-moon-sun related questions. I also asked higher classes to write good and bad things in society and how they can change that in future. Some students are definitely well above the rest of the class. I check Bengali reading in Class 5 and more than half can read well. Class 6 was confused about sun and earth (who rotates around whom). I was pleasantly surprised when a class 8 student could tell the qualities of a good teacher when I asked (what qualities she has to be a teacher).

I had the mid-day meal along with them- rice, lentil soup, egg with some potatoes Lower classes I just talked to them about what they learn here

Overall I liked the chemistry of students with the teachers. They seem happy in the school and quite at home. Also, this school is running for many years now before other schools are built nearby. I saw around 180-190 students.

Amol Nayak also mentioned they are ready to submit forms if there is any request from Government related to RTE. As of today, there is no communication from Govt officials.

The room with higher classes

The room/auditorium with lower classes

Class 5 students

Class 6 students

Class 7 students

Class 8 students

During the meal break

Class 4 students

Class 2 and 3 students

Class 1 and below

Me posing with Class 4 students

Discussion with the residential girls I talked to eight girls from the residential home. Four of them are in Class 12. One of

them could not come. Other four girls from home study in the girls’ school I just visited. None of them has any exposure to computer or smart phone and hence no internet. They all have homes but due to the strategic location of the hostel, they stay here so that they can continue education.

Four of them have issues with leg and cannot walk normally. Apart from that, I notice one student with eye issue and one with speech.

Quick chat with residential students

Discussions with the teachers Teachers present (10) – Sudhansu Maity (since 2012), Aloklata Mandal (2005),

Indraja Sardar (2010), Putul Debnath (2009), Farida Sheikh (2013), Minati Das (2005), Subhasree Laskar (2013), Sahana Sheikh (2009), Jalal Sheikh (2011), Alauddin Laskar (2003)

Aseem Mandal (2010) is the office clerk When asked how the school is different than surrounding government schools

o Better teacher to student ratioo More joyful learningo Extracurricular activities and special care for studentso Students do better after Class 8 compared to Govt school students in the

same school Scope of improvements – temporary partitions among classes, two additional room

for students, infrastructural improvement of staff room including a new cabinet, computers needed, advanced teacher training and if possible , vocational training for older students.

Posing with teachers

Overall impression: I felt the infrastructure of the hostel and school are very good and well maintained. The teachers are very responsible and they take care of the students well. Students are happy and residential students are confident to move forward in life. I had a wonderful time with the kids.

Parting photo shoots

- Dr Padmanava Sen (June 2018)