Girls Empowerment through Coaching Classes for Job Oriented Examinations

The problem of education for girl children afflicts the state and more so in areas where URMUL’s target villages are. The general trend in the schools in Bikaner with respect to the girls was: admission levels were high, attendance levels low, learning levels were poor and dropout levels high. The causes for the low enrolment and early dropping out of schools in girls are multiple. Gender discrimination in education affects girl children and their schooling the most. It is seen that even teachers conform to stereotypes and make statements like ‘why should girls study after all they have to become housewives’, these sort of things negatively impact young girls minds and they internalize the same. While there has been a marked improvement in admission figures during the past few years, retention rates are low, particularly at the stage of transition from primary to middle school. It was found that a substantial number of girls drop out at this stage. Causes for high dropout rates among girls could be the distance between the school and the home is too far and thus unsafe or the fact that girl children are considered ‘paraaya dhan’ (other’s wealth) and thus parents see no point in educating them much. There is a lack of good women role models from these areas who can influence girls and motivate parents to continue the schooling of girl children.

However, there are hundreds of girls who despite all odds have managed to complete their higher studies and are pursuing their graduation level education and aspire to become financially independent by getting some jobs so that they can support their families. The most preferred jobs for them are govt. jobs because each year, a large number of vacancies are being floated by govt. in the various departments like education, police, post office, banking, railways, forest department, judicial etc. The main motivation came from the girls who have managed to crack competitive examinations and are currently serving in govt. jobs. These girls were lucky as their parents could afford to enrol their daughters in good coaching centres situated in cities. Since there are no coaching facilities or competent teachers/guides in rural areas and most of the girls are from poor families who simply cannot afford the high fees of coaching centres and accommodation expenses that are incurred during the coaching period in cities. Even if they decide not to stay in cities and shuttle daily to coaching centres from their villages, parents feel it’s unsafe and will also have to bear the extra burden of daily travel cost which again is an issue. Because of these reasons girls in remote villages are unable to avail quality coaching and hence cannot prepare properly and crack these examinations. Moreover, the financial crunch and hardship which followed the COVID-19 lockdown, has made it even harder for the rural community to even make both the ends meet and hence are not in a position to bear the education expenses of their children.

• We have identified and prepared a list of 500 girls from rural villages of our project area who have completed their secondary, higher secondary and graduation level education and aspire to take competitive examinations for govt. jobs. This has been done in consultation with community-based organisations and discussion with girls and their parents.  
• Online coaching classes will be organised from Urmul Setu Sansthan campus, Lunkaransar to prepare Girls for competitive exams for govt. services like Patwar, Police constable , REET ( Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers) , BSTC, Bank clerks, railways, forest guard etc through organizing 60 days coaching classes of which 40 days will be online coaching classes and 20 days will be by providing village level onsite support – query/doubt clearing sessions ( during these onsite support we shall ensure to maintain govt’s COVID-19 guideline including social distancing, wearing masks and sensitization) to the girls so that the girls could prepare for the competitive exams and make their career in these services.
• Competent teachers will be hired who will facilitate the online coaching classes and onsite support for doubt clearing sessions. Project staff will keep in regular touch with students to get their feedback, make visits to villages to address technical issues which girls may face while attending online classes. 
• Once the coaching camps are over the girls will be supported at village level through providing guidance on how to apply for different jobs/vacancies as and when the notifications are published by govt. These girls will also be linked with village-level libraries (which have been established by Urmul Setu in past for the benefit of girls) where they will be able to study and learn through mutual interactions and discussions with fellow girls. 

It is expected that these 500 girls after completing their coaching classes will motivate around 1000 other village girls to pursue higher education and prepare for competitive examinations through joining village level libraries established and supported by Urmul Setu Sansthan. Urmul Setu has equipped these libraries with relevant competitive books and guides which will help them in preparing themselves for competitive exams. 

Urmul Setu has formed and is continuously supporting village level Kishori Prerna Manch ( Adolescent girls groups) wherein organisation staff visits regularly to inform, educate them on various issues including life skills, importance of higher education, personal and environmental sanitation, vocational training, child rights, social issues etc. The kishori prerna manch centers are equipped with libraries comprising of relevant study material including books/guides related to preparing for different govt. jobs, rojgar samachar, rojgar Sandesh etc.