SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

NEW BEGINNING FROM END
Four decade ago our village was rated among educated people, but with passage of time entity of my village changed entirely. Now my village is paradise of drug addicts and criminal minded people. World is moving ahead day by day with new horizons of learning. Strange but true, the communities in my context are moving backward. Day by day their miseries are increasing; they are rambling on the road which will lead them towards the well of doom. Mostly it is happening because of ruined educational system. There is only way out; to get children educate. Only mean to get children educate at my village is Government Primary School, which is closed from several years and due to poverty it is not possible for most of residents to admit their siblings in private schools. In fact state of education in public sector is same in almost entire Sindh one or other way. Here One million dollars question is how to bring change? How provide help those underprivileged communities and reopen the closed public schools and make them functional and effective. I am voluntarily taking some efforts from my native place. At moment I am not sure about any thing but hopeful that my today’s action will provide me road map for future. I am starting endless journey from closed Government primary school of my native village.

Brief back ground of school
Two decades ago our demand for Government Primary school in village approved and building comprising two rooms, boundary wall with bathroom facility constructed. In beginning year’s school’s performance was satisfactory. Fortunately some dedicated teachers posted there in school and community fully supported them. The story of regression started with formation of School Management Committee (SMC). As the part of devolution and decentralization then Government introduced SMC’s in schools empower communities to monitor and evaluate the performance of schools. In this way ever in first time of history schools make accountable before communities and communities identified as the potential human resource for schools. It was assumed that through empowering schools enrollment would be increase and ratio of drop out decrease. Mostly all schools get benefit from that very positive legislation; however the policy became rope in neck of our school. The position SMC chairman (Head) in our school occupied by influential person (wadero). He was the person who provided his personal land for construction of school building. As funding provided in account of school, the head of SMC demand all amount to be handover him for his personal use. Teachers, head teachers and other members of SMC tried their level best to realize him that these funds are not for personal usage, Government provided funds for development of school but, unfortunately he denied accepting any logic. Once he with help of his brothers and son beat school teachers severely. Due to his rude, uncooperative and threatening attitude to day schools is deserted.

Hopes and challenges
Positive signs
• School building is available in good condition with boundary wall.
• Free books.
• Free admission.
• Head teacher plus two more teachers are posted in school.
• Majority of people belonged village and suburb area are willing to reopen the school.
• Fair quality of Benches for student and two chairs and two tables for teacher are also available.
• Two black boards of are also available.
• 50+ male and female students enrolled in school.
• School constructed on road side and it is very easy to reach there from any side of locality.

Challenges
• Notorious entity of school.
• Non cooperative influential person of village unfortunately who is chairman of SMC also.
• Teacher’s negligence.
• Primary school teachers association.
• Criminal minded people.
• Discouraging environment.
• Wide spread social evils.
• Poverty.
• Unawareness regarding importance of education.

To understand the reality I manage a mini survey through cell phone. I write five questions and send them to 20 concerned people. I got 9 peoples responses. Three persons from them ring on my number and we discuss the matter in detail. In fact those were some sort of informal telephonic interviews. I ring one teacher and one another person belongs with community. Telephonic conversations were useful. While talking with them I took notes on paper. From survey and interviews I understand that all those are willing to reopen the school. Some have little doubts in their minds for success however rest seems to be hopeful and all of them are in favor to take a chance. Most of them are in favor to run school in same building. they emphases for negotiations with influential person to avoid any conflict. We agreed to meet in first week of August 2010 for more detailed discussions. The list of participant also made for the meeting with consultation.
We have developed three possible scenarios.

First scenario
Try to reopen school in same building with same staff after negotiations with all stake holders including the influential person. It is possible when we can get help and support widely from community and especially the educated ones. If we all together meet with the influential guy (Wadera) it is assumed that he will cooperate with us. In this condition we decided to arrange meeting of SMC inviting all stake holders including community and teachers. House will be remaining open for constructive discussions and suggestions. Decision will be taken with consensus. All decisions will be recorded on register in written form. Minutes of meeting also saved will keep the record properly. It is also decided that one meeting of SMC in every month must be held to evaluate the development work of school. Community assists the teachers in teaching learning process. Maintaining peaceful environment will be top priority.


Second scenario
In the situation we cannot run school in same condition as already mentioned in 1st scenario and deadlock exists in same then we will try to get permission from DEO, EDEO for branch school. In our neighbor village we have one precedent of same kind. Villagers with permission of authorities open branch school which is running its affairs successfully hence the main school closed from years for certain reasons. This will be little bit lengthy process, as public sector work is not occurring automatically. However, getting help from ruling political leader hopefully we will fix the problem. After approval of Branch school, I will provide two rooms for school initially. With granting permission authorities will be bound to provide require furniture and other facilities to school. In condition department will fail in providing necessary furniture then we will collect donations and purchase necessary furniture and other important material. As branch school will be open in same village and due to closure of main school, community will admit their children new open branch school. It is decided that all energies and efforts will be united to achieve the desired results. In this situation we will face opposition and threats from the influential person and his allies. It is decided that we will try our level best to avoid from any conflict however will face the challenged if necessary.

Third scenario
If we are not succeeding in second option also then we will negotiate with NGO’s and other civil society organizations i.e. SEF, IRC, SAGA, SRSO to open private school on not profit basis with very nominal and affordable fee. For that purpose I will provide rooms for school and my post graduate daughter will be head of school and in my patron ship a committee will be constituted for running affairs of school.

Conclusion
Our first priority is to reopen/open the school as children of village will be benefited from education. We will try our level best to bring all stakeholders together and with mutual understanding run the school and utilize the resources already available. in condition of failure in first priority will try to open branch school, private school on nonprofit basis is our last option. After running school our second priority will be to make school effective in terms of teaching learning. Then we will try to provide all required resources to students, teacher. We will try to make connections with other good schools, organizations i.e. iEARN, EAST, IED, etcetera, to learn from their experiences. Introduce the self evaluation system for development and good friendly environment