II. Creating awareness on RTE Act 2009
1. Sensitization Workshops for teachers and Government officials
About 8500 teachers had been sensitized on RTE Act 2009 with the support of Save the Children and Unicef in collaboration with Sarva Shiksha Mission, Kolkata. About 15 Resource Persons and Guests from different Government and Non-government organizations shared their valuable time and knowledge regarding various aspects of Right to Education Act with the participants.
2. Parents Sensitization Workshop
About 5500 parents were sensitized by CAS on Right to Education Act, 2009, giving emphasis to the role of parents. Through this process the society has been able to reach a considerable part of the community to ensure Child’s right to Education.
3. Sensitization of members of School Management Committee
Initiative has been taken to sensitize the members of School Management Committees of government aided schools on RTE Act 2009 and School Development Plan. This has been done in collaboration with the Sarva Shiksha Mission, Kolkata. About 2000 members have been sensitized.
4. Child Participation Programme
First time in Kolkata District, this initiative has been taken up by the society with the support of Save the Children in collaboration with Sarva Shiksha Mission, Kolkata. About 600 children from 12 schools participated in the Essay Writing and Drawing Competition on the Right to Education Act 2009.
5. Workshop on School Development Plan
Community Action Society has been taken initiative to orient the members of the School Management Committee on Preparing a School Development Plan which is a mandatory part of all Government/aided schools as per the RTE Act 2009. Orientation Workshops have been organized in collaboration with the Sarva Shiksha Mission Kolkata. In this Initiative 10 (ten) schools had participated.
6. Formation of State Resource Group
A need was felt to upgrade the knowledge of Civil Society Organization through sensitization to form a core Resource Group to meet the demand of Resource Persons in districts, who could support in sensitizing teachers, stakeholders, civil society members and help the District Authorities to implement the RTE Act. In view of that a Capacity Building Workshop of a Resource Group was organized by CAS in the West Bengal Voluntary Health Association Tower on 6th and 7th September, 2012. Mr. Subir Shukla facilitated the two day workshop. A State Resource Group has been formed of 28 people who are now facilitating the trainings on RTE Act in districts of West Bengal. The Initiative had been supported by the UNICEF and CAS had organized the Workshop in collaboration with the Sarva Shiksha Mission, Kolkata.
7. State Level Consultation on Positive Parenting and Non Violent Discipline in Schools and Home Situation
State level Consultation on Positive Parenting and Non Violent Discipline in Schools and Home Situation was organised in Kolkata and Siliguri on 8th and 11th March 2013 respectively.
Kolkata: The consultation was organised by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) with support from Global Institute of Social Sciences. The Sarva Siksha Mission, Kolkata also provided assistance.
The consultation drew 95 participants including governmnet education functionaries and school representatives from seven districts.the government officials included: Chairman DPSC, DPO-SSM, DI of schools-primary and secondary, heads of primary and secondary schools. Civil society organizations also represented. Distinguished speakers shared key concepts through presentations which were followed by interactive sessions. The district functionaries highlighted their experiences. Suggestions for continued engagement on the critical themes of positive parenting and non violent disciplining also emerged.
Siliguri: The State Level Consultation on Positive Parenting and Non Violent Discipline in Schools and Home Situations was organised by the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) with support from the Global Institute of Social Sciences (GISS) on March 11, 2013 in Siliguri, West Bengal. The Sarva Shiksha Mission, Siliguri provided the assistance in organising the consultation in Siliguri coordinating the six districts of North Bengal. The consultation drew 72 participants including government education functionaries and school representatives from six districts. Civil society organisations were also represented. Distinguished speakers shared key concepts through presentations which were followed by interactive sessions. The district functionaries highlighted their experiences and suggestions.
8. Capacity Building of the Members of Civil Society Organization
For the effective implementation of the RTE Act, 2009 effort had been taken by the Society for Orientation and Capacity Building of the members of the Civil Society Organization in Kolkata and Malda Districts of West Bengal. Three such two-day workshops had been organized with the support of Unicef in collaboration with the Sarva Shiksha Mission, Kolkata in Kolkata and Sarva Shiksha Mission, Malda in Malda Town. 210 members had been sensitized and trained on RTE Act 2009.
9. Setting up of Library
Right to Education Act 2009 says its mandatory to have a library in every school. CAS in collaboration with Smile foundation has set up a library in Chowbhaga Primary School for the benefit of the children. The library has 140 different types of books which will enhance the reading habit of children.
10. Special Coaching Camp for Students
With the purpose of providing back-up support to the weaker children from classes V-VIII, special teaching classes were held in seven government high schools. These children from the marginalized section of the society tend to drop out as they fail to cope with the daily studies of their school as their parents or guardians hardly can provide any back-up support at home. These special teaching classes, which have also been stated as one of the important components in RTE Act 2009, have been proved to be very effective in providing educational support to the children so that they could properly continue their studies. The teachers, chosen in consultation with the head of the schools, were subject specific so that they can impart best knowledge to the children.