Equality Express 2024 | Be an inclusion advocate for India's children

EQUALITY EXPRESS 2024 - SUPPORT SAFE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING FOR INDIA

Anu is a nine-year-old child studying at a government school in Delhi. She loves making tiny toys with bright papers and listening and reading the same stories when asked. 

Anu is often told that she is not as smart as everyone else. Just like Anu, Rohan, Saif and some of her other friends are treated differently, some for their names and surnames, and Rohan for not “acting like a boy”. Anu feels sad all the time because she doesn't like being different and she does not want to go to school anymore.

This is the story of many Anus from many underserved communities across our country who fear every day to be themselves because they are different. 80.3% of the total 14.89 lakh schools in India are primary schools. 6,32,454 of them are run by various government bodies. 

The Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009 attempted to take this forward by guaranteeing all children the right to go to school, the right to be treated with love and care, and most importantly, the right to be treated equally and with dignity. However, despite the good intentions, we are far from creating a level playing field for all our children. 

UDISE+ reports a 1.5% dropout rate at primary level (Classes 1-5), up from 0.8% in 2020-21, and 3.0% at upper primary level (Classes 6-8), compared to 1.9% in the same period last year. These numbers are more than statistics; they represent dreams deferred, potential untapped, especially among the most vulnerable: children from transgender, dalit, bahujan, adivasi communities, those with disabilities, and from religious minority groups. These children are more likely to be left behind without the opportunity to assimilate into mainstream society. 

The ability of children to access a school, participate in school activities, learn and grow, and most importantly, develop a sense of self-worth is influenced by school culture and its implementation. Currently, there is a lack of inclusive culture in government primary schools.

Every Child studying in Government schools has the right to access to Education that affirms their diverse identities and creates a safe, nurturing educational experience for them. 

They should have access to teachers who are compassionate, affirmative, and committed to social justice. When such teachers lead classrooms, they positively impact a child’s identity and development. This is how they can ensure 

• increased self-awareness and learning outcomes, 
• growth in social-emotional skills and dispositions, and, 
• most importantly, retention in school.

While teachers spend a significant amount of time with children, they do not have access to the necessary training and resources to enable the changing needs of all children, including those from marginalized backgrounds.

We have created our flagship inclusion curriculum for children from grades 3 to 6 to understand diversity, equity, and inclusion. We cover topics like identity, difference, discrimination, biases, inclusion, empathy, and compassion. We have been implementing our curriculum through the teachers in our partner schools by collaborating with organizations, state and local school administrations, which has created -

• A cohort of 46 affirmative teachers who actively commit to creating safer classrooms that showcase an intersectional and affirmative culture
• 1543 student leaders who practice compassion, empathy, and acceptance for themselves, their peers, and their community.

The reflections shared by the teachers we have worked with have been very positive and hopeful.

We do not just want to implement curriculums and work with teachers; we want to build a deep, sustainable program and organization that transforms the lives of children from their formative years by building Centers of excellence that can act as Model Inclusive Schools

But we can't do this alone. We need your support, your voice, your action. Whether it's through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, your involvement can make a real difference in the lives of millions of children across India.