Education has continued to be a focus of Gram Vikas' interventions since the early days. Gram Vikas' work in the education sector encompasses village based pre-school centers, village level primary education centers, residential schools for adivasi children and adult education.
In tribal villages the focus is on education of the adivasi children. Educating the tribal children has been a challenge for Gram Vikas. Initially they started with a non-formal pattern of education, teaching the children the skills most needed to them for their survival. However, over the years they realized that in order to fight the mainstream forces, the people had to be educated in the mainstream system of education. Only then would they be able to resist those forces effectively. Education is one of the chief activities in the ITDP and is managed by the education team members from Gram Vikas. Education centers are constructed, which impart formal education at the primary level. Gram Vikas even facilitates the smooth functioning of the government schools and encourages people to pressurize the government appointed teachers to regularly attend the schools.
In the RHEP areas too, village committees are encouraged to take active interest in effective functioning of schools in their villages. A ‘gaon sathi' or a village in charge is appointed, who imparts education to smaller children. Gram Vikas conducts training programmes and community events and also involves government teachers in them.
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