Evaluation of Educational Incentive Schemes for Minority Communities in Maharashtra

Evaluation of Educational Incentive Schemes for Minority Communities in Maharashtra Attendance Allowance, Free School Uniforms and Infrastructure Allowance Commissioned by Maharashtra State Minority Development Department 2013 DISHA NAWANI SABAH KHAN School of Education Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai ii Preface Under the context of Right to Education Act, 2009, the onus of responsibility for providing education to all children between the age group of 6- 14 years lies with the Indian State. What was once part of the Directive Principles of State Policy has now become a Fundamental Right to Education. However much before the enactment of the RTE, the central and several State Governments had initiated various schemes to enhance the enrollment and retention of children in schools. Provision of various incentives to children and parents of marginalized communities was one such scheme adopted by these governments. The main focus of this study is to examine three major incentive schemes introduced for minorities in the state of Maharashtra, namely- Attendance Allowance, Free School Uniforms and Infrastructure Allowance. This study attempts to critically assess not only a) the reach of these schemes to its intended beneficiaries but also b) the extent of their impact on student enrollment, retention and most importantly, learning. Rather than assuming a direct and straight forward relationship between incentives and the positives underlined above, one needs to systematically investigate the impact of these schemes, keeping in mind the varied socio-cultural and economic contexts in which these children are situated. iii Research Team Dr. Disha Nawani – Project Director Ms. Sabah Khan – Project Officer Ms. Anupama Raj – Editor Research Assistants Mr. Shashikant Sakat Ms. Rekha Randive Mr. Ismail Sharif Mr. Noor Alam Azad Mr. Nasir Hashmi iv Acknowledgements We are thankful to Maharashtra State Minorities Development Department for commissioning this Report to Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. We are grateful to Dr. Thanksy F. Thekkekara (I.A.S.), Principal Secretary, Minority Development Department, for entrusting us with this study. Prof. Ranu Jain, who was instrumental in getting the study from the Maharashtra State Minority Development Department, entrusted us with the task of conducting the study and gave her valuable insights which helped us plan and conduct the study better. We would specially like to thank Mr. Bhat, Deputy Secretary, MDD for his help and support for the study and Mr. Mulla, Joint Director, Adult and Minority Education Department for sharing his insights on the subject. The support provided by the District Planning Officers, the officials of the Collectors’ offices and the officials of the Education Departments of each of the Districts ensured a smooth process of data collection. A special mention for Mr. Muradi, (District Planning Office, Parbhani) for extending help to the research team for data collection in Parbhani. We are grateful to all the parents, Principals, teachers, community leaders and the children for giving us their time and sharing their experiences with us. We would also like to thank the staff of Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) for organizing a meeting with parents in the community in Bandra, Mumbai and Ms Amina Khan, Counsellor at Azam Campus for sharing her experience of the Scholarship Cell in Pune. Dr. Disha Nawani Ms. Sabah Khan v Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................. 1 1. INTRODUCTION: CONTEXTUALISING INCENTIVES a. Incentives........................................................................................................................................... 8 b. Intended Beneficiaries....................................................................................................................... 9 c. Objectives of the Study ..................................................................................................................... 9 2. METHOD: SELECTION OF DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS AND TOOLS OF THE STUDY a. Selection of Districts ....................................................................................................................... 11 b. Selection of Schools ........................................................................................................................ 13 c. Tools used for the Study.................................................................................................................. 16 d. Challenges faced during data collection ......................................................................................... 16 3. COMMUNITIES: UNDERSTANDING CONCERNS IMPACTING THEIR LIVES a. Status of Minorities and Challenges Faced by them ...................................................................... 18 b. Economic Conditions of Families ................................................................................................... 19 c. Dropping Out from Schools ............................................................................................................ 19 d. Children as assets to their families ................................................................................................. 22 e. Children’s lives after school ........................................................................................................... 22 f. Localities where children live ......................................................................................................... 23 4. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: INSIGHTS FROM THE FIELD a. Attendance Allowance .................................................................................................................... 24 i. Objective of the Scheme ......................................................................................................... 24 ii. Scope and Eligibility of applicants ........................................................................................ 24 iii. Implementation Guidelines for the Scheme ........................................................................... 24 iv. Research Findings ................................................................................................................... 24 v. Delay in receiving the Incentive ............................................................................................ 26 vi. Inadequate Incentive Amount against Average Expenditure incurred by families ............... 26 vii. Suggestions made by Parents and Principals ......................................................................... 27 b. Free Uniform ................................................................................................................................... 28 i. Objective of the Scheme ......................................................................................................... 28 ii. Scope and Eligibility of applicants ........................................................................................ 28 iii. Implementation Guidelines for the Scheme ........................................................................... 28 iv. Findings of the Study .............................................................................................................. 28 v. Delay in receiving grants / uniforms ...................................................................................... 30 vi. Insufficient Money / Cloth ..................................................................................................... 30 vii. Unrealistic Budgeting for Uniforms / Insufficient amount for stitching............................... 30 viii. Occasion taking precedence over need .................................................................................. 31 ix. Suggestions made by Parents and Principals ......................................................................... 31 c. Infrastructure Allowance................................................................................................................. 32 i. Objective of the Scheme ......................................................................................................... 32 ii. Scope and Eligibility of applicants ........................................................................................ 32 iii. Findings of the Study .............................................................................................................. 32 iv. Suggestions made by Principals, Management and Education officers ................................ 34 vi 5. ABYSMALLY EQUIPPED SCHOOLS: UNHAPPY SPACES FOR CHILDREN a. Availability of Computers in schools ............................................................................................. 37 b. Dysfunctional Toilets ...................................................................................................................... 38 c. Teachers in schools ......................................................................................................................... 40 d. A Few Happy Exceptions! .............................................................................................................. 41 6. LOW COST PRIVATE SCHOOLS: POOR CHILDREN AND HARASSED TEACHERS a. Insufficient Number of Government Schools ................................................................................ 43 b. Mushrooming Private schools - Filling the gap ............................................................................

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