NGOs demand better education for minorities' children

As compared to industrial advancement in Gujarat, education seems to be following at a snail's pace and in some cases, educationist and activists lament, it seems to have become almost stagnant. Education activists from nearly 20 NGOs in Juhapura have been fighting for basic and quality education for the children of the minority community.

To buttress their demand, these NGOs, namely, Sadhbhav, Samarth, Gantar, Sanchetna, Ashwin Art, Anhad and others, will be organising a rally on July 22, at 3 pm from Kochrab Ashram in Paldi to Sardarbaug demanding action from the government.

Explaining the situation, an activist from Samarth and IIT Delhi professor, Vipin Tripathi said, “Juhapura has 16 private, four government and four grant-in-aid high schools. We have been working towards improving the education situation here since one year.  Two years ago, during our survey, we found that in Class I, there were 360 students across four government schools and 2,500 students in private schools. But government schools lacked even the basic facilities like doormats and separate bathrooms for boys and girls.”

Tripathi added that a government school in Gyaspur Bhatha, where 800 students are studying, there are only 17 teachers in lieu of the 27 officially on the payroll, and only four classrooms.
 “We had requested for a new building with 20 classrooms, which the government has agreed. They have also agreed to provide children of Juhapura with a high school with class 9-12. However, there seems to be a lackadaisical approach on the whole.”
Besides the NGOs feel, work is not moving fast enough feels in the agreed and worked upon demands.