Snakes and Ladders - ERU Consultants Pvt. Ltd.

and the mid-day meal? May be this is asking too much of a system that is so enormous and
impersonal. But there are no shortcuts – children need care, love and above all individualised
attention.
Children are not passive but active participants in the process of their development and education.
Throughout our research it was the interactions and activities with children that gave us an in-
depth understanding of the functioning of the school, teacher attitudes/practices, physical and
verbal abuse in the classroom, household nutrition/food practices and the negative impact they
have on children’s self-esteem/dignity. Similarly our understanding of the world of work with
respect to both school-going children and those who are out of it provided valuable insights.
Therefore, listening to children and giving them a voice/a forum is of great importance.
Educational Resource Unit Page 100 April 2003