Child-and-adult-labour-in-the-export-oriented-garment-and-gem-polishing-industry-of-India

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Child and adult labour in the gem polishing export industry of Jaipur
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'Joyful learning'
Unicef is focusing on universalization of primary education and, therefore, on initiatives which
aim to improve the quality of primary education and to make it more attractive, meaningful and
joyful for children. It was found, through experiences of the on-going Total Literacy Campaign of
the Government, that children enroled into school but after some time left school as they did not
find studies interesting, which resulted in high drop-out rates. It was also found that teachers
lacked skills to keep children busy and develop interest in learning; the schools were also not an
interesting and attractive place for children.
Unicef, therefore, supports the 'Guru Mitra Yojana' (Teacher Friendly Scheme) in Tonk district,
Rajasthan, which is an initiative of school teachers of primary schools in that district. The teachers
had decided to take up the responsibility of strengthening primary education under the
banner of the 'Teacher Friendly Scheme'. This Scheme, which was launched in 1994 under the
overall guidance of the District Collector, puts focused attention on teachers empowerment.
The objectives of the Scheme are in brief:
- 100% enrolment of six/seven year old children in Class I and help them to attend school
regularly and move on to next classes;
- to improve school environment by low cost teaching aids from readily available local materials;
- to motivate teachers of Class I to initiate child-friendly and joyful activities to ensure retention
and achievement of minimum levels of learning, and
- to involve the local community and parents for achieving better enrolment, retention and quality
learning.
Mr. Thomas said that, up till today, the Scheme had been very successful and the primary school
enrolment figure was on the rise in Tonk District. The Scheme in Tonk District was inspired by
the successful experiment of the Teachers' Empowerment Project of Madhya Pradesh Shikshak
Samakhya in Madhya Pradesh. This Project had improved school attendance dramatically. 'The
school buildings of the schools which are covered by the Project are painted with bright pictures
and blackboards have been painted on the walls at a height which is within the reach of children.
Teachers and children have made very clever use of local materials to produce
inexpensive toys, masks and teaching aids. The children of these schools want the teacher to tell
them stories, sing songs with them, and teach them to play. The Project in Madhya Pradesh,
clearly demonstrates that enthusing and training the teacher can vastly improve the quality of
primary education within the existing system and need not be expensive' 178 .
If primary education in Jaipur city should be improved in the same way as in the Teachers
Friendly Scheme of Tonk District and the Teacher's Empowerment Project of Madhya Pradesh,
more children would be sent to school. The children themselves would be more interested to go
to school and continue studies instead of dropping out. If the parents in Jaipur city, whether
Muslim or Hindu, are actively involved in similar projects together with the local community,
there would be possibilities for really weaning the children from the gem polishing industry and
other employments without being too expensive for parents or the Government. 'Joyful Learning'
178 Unicef, New Delhi, India, 1995, The progress of Indian States 1995, op. cit. p. 52.