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     "SPW Volunteers have 
   empowered our schools
   and have truly been a force
   for change.They have not 
   only brought  the govern-
   ment, the communities and 
   other NGOs to work together
   on issues but  have  had a  
   remarkable long  term 
   influence on the knowledge,
   attitude and behaviour of 
   students, teachers and  
   communities in which they 
   have worked."
   Tmt.T.H. Chenthamizh Selvi,
      M.Sc., M.Phil., M.Ed., B.A.L
   Chief Education Officer
   Vellore District
 
The District Education Office has invited SPW to support them in improving the quality and relevance of learning in schools.
  

WHY EMPOWER GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
The importance of the government school in the lives of poor children in India is undeniable as 70 - 80 percent of children from poor households are enrolled in government schools. The District Government recognises the findings of numerous socio-economic studies that have revealed that basic education has a direct positive impact on a number of social and economic indicators such as:

Population Control
Healthcare and Sanitation
Law and Order

Employment, Productivity, GDP,
Economic Growth
Child labour and gender
discriminations

This is why the overall functioning of the government school - in particular the quality of teaching and learning becomes critical. First generation school goers require an extraordinary amount of care and attention, and as the government has stated that they are serious about guaranteeing every child the right to holistic education and the right to childhood, it calls for a change in attitude and commitment of stakeholders at various levels namely the Head Teachers, the teachers, the parents and the community at large.

SPW has proved time and again that children are not passive but active participants in the process of their development and education. The Organization's various activities and interactions with students over the past ten years in Southern India has given SPW an in-depth understanding of the functioning of a school, teacher's attitudes, gender and child abuse, nutrition / food practices and the negative impact these can have on a child's self-esteem and dignity. Listening to children and giving them a voice/forum, especially through the facilitation of peer educators, is of great importance.