Educated Youths Take the Initiative:

As the Sanitation Programme spread in Orangi and in other low income settlements in Karachi, OPP-RTI came in contact with the educated youths from these settlements, most of whom were college students. Having been educated themselves they had the desire to educate neighbourhood children. These children could not go to school, either because they could not afford the high fees of established schools, or there were no schools nearby, or the working children were free only in the evening. Some educated youths were already giving private tuition. They had some space in their homes for starting a school but lacked funds for purchase of mats, stationery, black boards, table and chair. In some cases construction of a shed or roofing of a verandah was needed.

OPP-RTI's Support:

We decided to support these young entrepreneurs in setting up schools by providing a small grant, ranging from Rs.1300 to Rs.6000. In April 1995 we provided support to Abdul Waheed of Islamia Colony, Site town, for the first school. Rs.1300/- was given for construction of a roof over a verandah in his home which could be used as a classroom. Then 5 more youths from nearby settlements were provided support. Students from Ghaziabad in Orangi wanted to educate children from their settlement, who worked in the embroidery and carpet workshops. In Sept'95, they set up a night school, with a support of Rs.4500/-. Soon more requests for support from Orangi as well as from settlements outside Orangi started being received. We found that there were many small schools set up by educational entrepreneurs. These needed small support of Rs. 10,000 to 20,000/- for physical upgrading. Often it was found that with no support the initiative would fizzle out. Small grant support to initiatives proved to be effective in confidence building and solvency of the small schools. With small schools becoming successful more new schools have been setup as the demand has increased. This is the demonstration affect. From April’95 upto March 2007 we supported the upgrading of schools with small grants. Then for about a year and a half, the program only focused on mobilizing School Saving Groups and teachers forums. Since Nov 2008, small grant support to schools has restarted, complimenting and strengthening the School Saving Groups.

Schools Functioning

Uptil Sept’2011 we have supported the setting up/upgrading of 577 small schools. 348 of these schools are in Orangi and 229 are in the adjoining towns of Gadap, Site, Baldia, Kaemari and Bin Qasim. 558 schools are operating and have taken the shape of formal institutions. 18 schools have dropped out and one has closed due to the sudden death of the entrepreneur. The drop out rate has been higher in the schools supported in the initial period. This period (Jul'11 to Sep'11) requests for support have been received from 17 schools of Orangi, Baldia, Kemari and Site towns. Visits, surveys and meetings with school entreprenuers are underway for support.

Statistics April'95 – Sept’ 2011

The 2002 - 2006 survey of the UCs of Orangi Town shows that there are 644 private schools (setup by local educational entrepreneurs) and 69 govt. schools. Orangi map documenting the location of the surveyed schools is available. Of the private schools, it has been observed that 50% i.e. 322 are small schools falling in the 1 st stage category with student’s enrolment averaging 42 to 193. The support for the 1 st stage has been provided to 322 of these schools plus to 26 new schools i.e. total 348 schools. More schools have been setup since the survey, these are being documented. The program has now extended to more towns; total 229 schools have been supported, 11 in Gadap, 122 in Baldia, 24 in Kemari, 71 in Site and 1 in Bin Qasim town. As contacts in the goths (traditional villages fast becoming urban) in Karachi have increased due to the Secure Housing Support Program (section 3) of the 127th Quarterly progress report, schools in the goths are increasingly being supported, total 20 supported. Of 3 more schools requests are being processed.

Stages in Expansion:

We have observed that there are three stages in the strengthening of these schools, a fourth interesting stage has also emerged:

First: when educational entrepreneurs need small financial support, about Rs. 15,000-18,000 (lately Rs. 20,000) for upgrading small schools.

Second: within a year the schools take an institutional shape with salaried teachers, and students paying fees. There is increased demand for enrolment of students. Need arises for physical expansion i.e construction of an additional classroom or roofing over existing structures. At this stage support amounting to about Rs.35,000 is needed. This support is important for the survival of the new schools. Initially donors provided grants for a few schools, later OPP-OCT (Orangi Charitable Trust) credit program arranged interest free loans.

Third: with support at both the stages, the schools become stable as formal educational institutions. They then develop the capacity to upgrade their schools thru taking loans and paying them back with interest. OPP- OCT has so far given 579 loans for upgrading schools.

A fourth stage has emerged, with the coming together of a number of schools (about 20-40) as savings and credit groups, for continued upgrading. OPP-RTI supports the mobilization of the groups, and provides some matching grant (related to the savings) later in the process.

Budget for Expansion:

From 1996 upto Feb’11 Rs. 8,513,134 were received as grants mainly from Homeless International (H.I). Total 574 schools have been supported. Most schools were supported with the 1 st stage grants and some for the 2 nd stage. More schools are under process for the first stage support. OPP-OCT continues support for the second and third stages. The fourth stage is also ongoing.

Budget: Grant s upport for Expansion

In the project year Feb’10-Feb’11, following grant was received from Homeless International for support to schools.

For further support a Karachi based local oganisation “The Energy Enterprize Trust” has agreed to support the upgrading of 25 schools, setup by the people in the goths of Karachi, with the 1 st stage grant. Likewise support of Rs. 20,000 each has been provided to 3 schools in 3 goths. For more schools support is under process.

Revolving fund for interest free loans to schools:

The fund is managed by the OPP-OCT, the micro credit institution. Total 157 schools have acquired interest free loans amounting to Rs.25,38,710 from this fund, for further improvements. 30 schools are paying back the loan regularly, of 2 schools, loans were written off, due to the death of the entrepreneurs, 125 schools have paid back their loans.

Teachers Training and the School Saving Groups:

Total fourteen teachers training courses have been organised, in which 379 teachers belonging to 138 schools participated. The grant support has been a source of confidence building for the schools, which have been strengthened and encouraged to undertake joint activities. It has been observed that several school groups have started offering regular teachers training courses.

There are also several School Saving Groups. Some mobilized by the program, while others that are already functioning contact the program for support. 1) Group of 42 schools in Orangi town, named the United Educational Development Society (UEDS), mobilized and facilitated by partner TTRC, is active, Rs. 3,75,000 has been saved thru monthly contributions. Since more then a year small credit, of Rs.5,000-25,000, has been provided by the group to total 23 member schools. Support for lab equipments was provided earlier, 178 students of 10 schools continue to use these. To avoid the menace of cheating, in the 10 th grade examinations conducted by the govt., since Feb’10 the group has organised two pre examination trials. Total 437 students of 25 member schools participated. Last period a teachers training course was organized with 42 teachers participating, one more course is being planned by the group. On the groups request OPP-OCT (the credit organization) has allocated Rs. 3,00,000 for credit to the member schools. 2) Group of 28 schools in Baldia town - the Private Schools Development Organization (PSDO), are resolving their groups issues. Part of the Rs. 36,000 saved, with the coordinator of the group, was last period deposited in the group’s bank account. OPP-RTI is guiding the group, one of the focuses is account keeping. 3) A new saving group (Ahbab-e-Ilm) comprising of 10 schools in Site town have saved Rs. 9,300/. The groups are being guided, while other school groups are being mobilized.

For strengthening the coming together of schools, lectures and forums are organized. Total eleven lectures were organized. Besides adding to their skills, the events have provided an opportunity to school owners and teachers to come together. Lectures and forums have been documented, six have been published. As needed schools also use these printed lectures in their training courses.

Documentation:

Audio visual documentation is being maintained. Interview profiles of total 98 school entrepreneurs and pictorial profiles of total 383 schools were prepared. Profiles of 10 selected educational entrepreneurs, published in English and Urdu, is available. Profiles of schools supported in the goths are being prepared for publication.

Documentation shows that with the grant for the 1 st stage amounting to Rs. 12,000 to 18,000, (now 20,000) some schools were able to manage physical developments worth 2-3 times the amount. The school entrepreneurs have received most financial support from their families, for initiating and strengthening the schools.

Matka Filter for drinking water:

Schools in the peripheral towns of Gadap and Keamari , located in the Goths (villages) and some also in Baldia town have access to very poor quality of water. Earlier, in a school in Baldia, a matka filter was demonstrated costing Rs. 800, three more schools, 2 in Kemari and one in Baldia have adopted the same. More schools are being mobilized to adopt the use of matka filter. One is also being used at the OPP-RTI office.