In early May, The Trust signed grant agreements with two NGOs, Vigyan Foundation (VF) and Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), for projects aimed at strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of School Management and Development Committees (SMDC)*, an essential component of Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)*, in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh and Sambalpur, Orissa.
The Kusuma Trust UK is an independent grant making organisation
Sixty-Five Secondary Schools to receive support
These grants will support 40 schools in Hardoi and 25 schools in Sambalpur.
The projects will strengthen school governance and management by training SMDC members to understand and fulfill their responsibilities. Each SMDC will develop and implement a school development plan to improve their school’s learning environment and boost the enrolment, retention and academic performance of students.
All 65 schools will be encouraged to lobby the government to ensure that necessary infrastructure, such a separate toilets for boys and girls, enclosed playgrounds, science laboratories and libraries, are established and functioning in the schools.
*SMDCs are comprised of up to 18 members (including teachers, parents and community members) and are responsible for school governance and management.
**RMSA is India’s national scheme for improving the quality of secondary education.