Hunger, disease and child labor. The slums of Bombay and Delhi are notorious for it. Children work or loiter in the streets. Many of them cannot go to school simply because they have already fallen behind too far or because they are tormented by hunger. The fact that they cannot read or write settles their fate: once an illiterate pauper, always an illiterate pauper.
Some people, such as Survana Phadtare, see the misery and try to stop it. They have decided to teach children the basics. But how do you educate disadvantaged children? There are no such pedagogical courses in India. Says Survana, 'I heard about Pratham, a private educational organization which trains people to be teachers. They teach you how to give lessons and how to use different methods of education. This is a very unusual idea in India, where all education is couched in the same approach.'
Pratham was founded in 1994 and has since grown to be a successful organization through which 4000 employees teach more than 80,000 children. The organization guides women from slum areas in arranging education for children between the age of three and five who otherwise would not go to school. It also provides remedial teaching for those children who lag behind at regular schools because of hunger, sickness or child labor.
Phadtare is one of twelve students who participated in an educational program at the Faculty of Educational Science and Technology (TO) during the past eight weeks and graduated on May 31. They are enthusiastic to return to India, apply the acquired knowledge and convey it to their colleagues.
Madhuri Pai also attended the course. Pai experienced the cooperation between Pratham and the UT as very enriching. 'Here in Twente, education is looked at in a technical and scientific way. We were taught here to look at our educational programs from different points of view; a completely new idea for Indian educators. It prompts us to develop a wider perspective on educational programs and teaches us how to work with different models and concepts. In India educational science is a lot more one-sided and superficial.'
She and eleven other students will convey their fresh views to others in India. 'Especially to the government,' Pai declares. 'We need to convince them of these new didactic views. Most illiterate parents do not know the advantages of education so it is up to the government to encourage them. At this moment children do not go to school until the age of five. We are convinced that it is very important for the government to provide education for younger children as well.'
According to the participants eight weeks in Holland has been 'long but perhaps not long enough'. They visited many Dutch sights, suchas . 'Madurodam, Keukenhof, the Floriade, Amsterdam and Giethoorn. What is so special about Holland? Pai thinks she knows. 'Dutch people are reserved, a respectful and introverted nation. Indians? They're different!' she laughs.
