HSSP Parishad enchances honorarum of volunteers

by Haryananewswire (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, DEC 22

The Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad has decided to enhance the honorarium of volunteers working at Child Care Centres of Model Cluster Schools, set up under the National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) from Rs 625 to Rs 1,400 per month. The blocks housing these schools are spread over ten districts of Haryana. 

       This decision was taken at the 33rd meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan held under the chairpersonship of the Haryana Chief Secretary, Mrs Urvashi Gulati, here today.  

     NPEGEL is a focussed intervention of the Government of India aimed at reaching the “Hardest to Reach” girls, especially those not in school. There is provision to run two child care centres in each Model Cluster School (MCS) with the provision of play way material, and honorarium to the volunteers of Rs 6,000 per MCS.

          The volunteers, who are at least Class X pass, take care of the young siblings attending schools along with their elder sisters. It helps in completion of the girls' elementary education.  

            In her directions to the Additional Deputy Commissioners who are responsible for implementation of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in districts, Mrs Gulati said that as Haryana had made significant strides in enrolling children in schools, it was high time focus was laid on improving their learning levels also.

          "We would not achieve the objective of Right to Education Act merely by enrolling children in schools. Each and every component of the programme should be followed religiously. Learning levels should be benchmarked by conducting regular surveys, imparting training and bridge courses, remedial coaching, perfect monitoring and strong evaluation of the impact of the steps taken in this direction", Mrs Gulati added. 

            Besides improving the learning levels, she said that schools should also enable the children to inculcate life skill education. Doing their own chores like washing utensils after the mid-day meal served in the school would be one such exercise. This way the children learn to be more self-dependent.  

          The Chief Secretary also emphasized the need for developing in children civic sense and positive perception towards society which, once developed in the formative years, would go a long way in developing their overall personality in the later years.  Cleanliness and sanitation should also be inculcated in their habits. 

    Mrs Gulati issued directions that water conservation and water harvesting methodologies should be explored for schools in the low lying areas. ADCs were directed to identify schools in their districts where water harvesting could be done and they were advised to take technical assistance.

          Earlier in his presentation, the Project Director of the Parishad, Mr Vineet Garg, highlighted the activities undertaken under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. “Shiksha Ka Haq Abhiyan” was launched at the national level on November 11, 2011 at Nuh in Mewat.

          Special programmes were developed for enrolment of out-of- school children in Mewat.  Partnership with NGOs working in Mewat, as well as with NCPCR, was started for “Shiksha Samwad”, “Jazba -E- Taleem” and “Jashan -E- Taleem” programme in Mewat. Dastak at one lakh doors by a group of 20 members consisting of teachers, SMC, SHG, SMS and  NGO members was done for the enrolment of children in schools.

          While highlighting the progress of the civil works in 2011-12, he said that 2,384 rooms had been added up to November 30, 2011 and another 2,000 would be constructed by March, 2012.