What is the project?
Following the Asian tsunami of December 2004, 31 young children
from two of the most severely damaged of the Nicobar Islands have
been transferred to the Tadong School in Sikkim (north-east India)
to continue their education.
Where is the project?
The Tadong School is located in the mountainous, north-eastern
region of Sikkim. Sikkim is situated between Nepal and Bhutan,
directly to the south of China.
The children are natives of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
These 500 islands are classified as a Union Territory of India.
They are located over a thousand kilometres off the Indian east
coast, in the southeast of the Bay of Bengal. The population is
around 360,000.
What is the project s background?
The tsunami caused massive destruction and loss of life on the
Nicobar Islands. Two of the worst affected islands, Katchal Island
and Car Nicobar, lost virtually all their schools and teachers. The
standard of education before the tsunami was not of a particularly
high quality and seems to be a major limiting factor for the
development of the islands.
Initially 15 children were relocated from Katchal Island to the
Tadong school in Sikkim. The school has been established for over
25 years and currently has 450 students. This particular school was
selected because of the availability of spaces , and to some extent
geography. The children blend in well having similar Mongoloid
features to the local children.. The Indian State curriculum used
is the same as that on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Recently,
a further 16 children from Car Nicobar have joined the Tadong
school.
The hope is that in the future the children will be able to
return to their islands and be agents for positive change.
What does the project include?
The project includes the hosting and education of 31 children aged
from 8-10 years old. They will be educated through to 10th grade;
equivalent to Year 5 in UK secondary schools. As well as the
normal curriculum, moral classes are delivered on a weekly
basis.
The children will return home to the Nicobar Islands at least once
a year for 10 weeks to be with their families and to maintain a
lasting relationship with the Islands of their birth.
How is BASED-UK involved?
BASED-UK offers help in the following ways:
provide the finances for the journeys from the Nicobar
Islands to Sikkim
provide financial assistance for education and living
costs
recruit and financially support, where appropriate,
volunteers to work at the school . Three English teachers went in
2005 to specifically teach the Nicobar children.
secure educational consultancy support for the school to
strengthen its overall performance.
Uttar Pradesh
Supporting rural schools: implemented by the Foundation
for Advancement of Science
What is the project?
The education programme implemented by the Foundation for
Advancement of Science (FAS) provides curriculum development,
teacher training, financial and didactic support to poor rural
schools in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Find out more at www.fasindia.com
Where is the project based?
The Foundation for Advancement of Science is based in Lucknow,
the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in northern India.
What is the project s background?
FAS was established in 1996 as a non-governmental organization
focusing on social and economic development in Uttar Pradesh. FAS
was founded by Dr. Payam Mohajer and is currently run by his
brother Dr. Sohayl Mohajer. Initially, FAS operated as a publishing
house producing educational materials promoting moral qualities,
while supporting a few small rural schools. Currently, FAS is
strengthening and expanding its education programme activities with
these schools.
What does the project include?
FAS has two main activities:
income generating activities:
the development, publication and marketing of educational
materials promoting moral qualities and virtues
consultancy and training services to school administrators and
staff
rural schools education programme:
curriculum development: development of a primary-level
integrated school curriculum based upon the SAT programme (see
link to Bayan page needed!!). The curriculum will
encourage critical thinking and aspects of social justice. It will
also support agriculture and rural livelihoods.
teacher training: based on dealing with the needs of teachers
working in rural schools. It is based upon materials developed by a
sister organization in Uganda (??? Check with Naysan:Zambiais more likely!).
growth model for rural schools: development of a
model for school establishment and growth. An attempt
is being made to understand the dynamics and logistics of working
with and supporting rural schools as they grow.
How is BASED-UK involved?
BASED-UK has been offering support to FAS since 2004,
including:
funding staffing costs
contributing toward the running costs of the education
programme
recruitment of volunteers to work with FAS on a medium-term
basis
BASED-UK: INDIA
PROJECTS
