Education is pre-requisite for development. Sampark views education as not only knowledge of alphabet or numerals, but with capability. This capability comes from coordination of local knowledge and modern education and helps a person in analysing himself. It also provides the person capability to make efforts for improving his condition. For Sampark education is not capability of earning one’s livelihood by acquiring technical knowledge, but making him capable in all aspects.

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1. Night Schools

Sampark started 10 night schools in 1994 for grazer children, who were not at all associated with formal education system. These schools are running even today.

The teachers are local and have been imparted training in non-formal education system. After bringing the cattle from pastures, the children have their dinner and then attend classes, held at home of someone in the village in the light of solar lantern developed by Sampark.

Simple teaching methodologies are used at night schools. For Arithmetic, Bhils’ method of counting ‘pachod’ and for language Bhils’ stories, sayings, poems, etc., are used. For inculcating scientinfic values the children are taught cleanliness of their bodies, homes and school.

Night schools are managed by committees of active residents of villages. Students passing night schools with satisfying marks are admitted to classes 1 to 5 of mainstream schools. A few children are also admitted to bridge course.

2.  Sampark Buniyadi Shala

Sampark Buniyadi Shala was established to fill a felt need as the children passing out from night school and admitted to mainstream government schools were somehow frustrated with themselves. This Buniyadi Shala was established on July 5, 2004.

Buniyadi Shala follows Mahatma Gandhi’s Buniyadi education system and imparts education through work. It lays emphasis on character building, self-reliance, castelessness, religious equality and vocational education and inculcates respect for cottage industries, agriculture and animal husbandry. It follows mainstream syllabus prescribed by Madhya Pradesh Government with several value additions.

Education at the shala is chargeable. Parents’ Association and Sampark have mutually fixed it Rs 3,616 cash, 135 kg grains and 15 kg dal for children of class 1 to 3 and Rs 3,866 cash, 150 kg grains and 15 kg dal for children in classes 4 to 6.

3. Universalisation of School Education

This intervention is underway since November 2005. The efforts done so far include:

1. Raising education related issues at the village level by community pressure group
2. Monitoring of schools by pressure group
3. Community based advocacy like demand of education, extra room, drinking water and toilet in schools
4. Efforts for betterment of education at panchayat and gram sabha levels
5. Establishing collaboration between community and teachers
6. Linking drop out and non-school going children with school and bridge course through parents association
7. Establish collaboration with government education system
8. Inclusion of quality education in schools with teachers’ training and efforts with government education system
9. Establishment of collaboration with media, other organisations and institutions and they have become prepared to raise their voice on one forum

4. Quality Education – Reading Skill Improvement

This 14-week package is targeted at children who are unable to read properly. It enables children to identify and pronounce words correctly. It has 10 steps and quickly improves reading skills of children. While standard of education in government schools is quickly falling, reading skill quality improvement package is helpful for weak children.

So far 11 reading skill quality improvement centres have been run in six villages, leading to improvement in reading skills of children.