Part II.pdf - MTB-MLE Network

Future action plan
ASHRAI has a 3-year plan (2002-04) for educational support of indigenous communities. Gradually,
ASHRAI will extend its assistance to 4,000 tribal groups comprising 80,000 indigenous women.
We are now running 133 NFPE Schools for Adivasi children. In January 2005, 20 more schools
are expected to begin. ASHRAI will explore every possibility to expand its education programme
to benefit indigenous people. In the near future, ASHRAI also plans to use the recently developed
Sadri educational materials in every school where Oraon children are studying.
12. Conclusion
Education accelerates social change. Since its inception, ASHRAI has been trying to facilitate and
promote education for tribal communities. The ASHRAI project for tribal people in the Barind
region over the last decade has tremendously developed the consciousness among tribal families
for their children’s education. As a result, ASHRAI has been implementing a separate, but large,
education programme for tribal children and their mothers in the name of PLEASE and TCDP since
January 2002. Cooperation and assistance from UNESCO for curriculum development and
educational materials significantly helps to promote universal literacy among the tribal communities
through mother tongue education. There is no doubt that this initiative from ASHRAI and UNESCO
will enhance confidence and enthusiasm among disadvantaged tribal communities towards other
change activities. Certainly, these project activities have been a major contribution towards achieving
the GOB’s pledge of “Education for All” by 2015.
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