An Initiative Towards Better Education

S. F. Memorial School

Garkhet, Jaunpur, Tehri Garhwal

Uttarakhand ( Dev Bhoomi ) has been the center of education from the ancient time. Workplace of Dronacharya and Composition of Meghdoot by Kalidas indicate this, but the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand is lacking form quality Education due to which many problems are in the front of garhwal region like Migration

“ It is often seen that mountain water and mountain youth are of no use to the mountain, but we have broken this myth and have taken a small step to prevent migration by the mountain youth.”

Garkhet located in district Tehri is educationally, socially and economically backward area. Garkhet is a small market located in district Tehri, which is the main center of more than 25 villages. There is a lot of poverty in most of the rural areas. It is very difficult to meet basic needs. Education, unemployment, health and poor living conditions are the main issues in the area, roads are in very bad condition, lack of medical facilities due to which a huge migration is happening every year. Most of the people are leaving their village for better education of children and in search of employment for themselves and are going towards cities. So that he can get good education for his children, employment for himself and good upbringing of the family.

We are concerned about the problems of our area and under this an English medium primary school Srichand Fauji Memorial School was started in the year 2016. We have tried to reduce migration and have been successful to some extent. After the school started in 2016, with the help of this school, about 35 - 40 families have been stopped from going to the city and we will keep trying in future also. From the year of opening of the school in 2016 to 2020, before the corona pandemic, we have brought 10-12 families back to the village from the city through public awareness. The families who had migrated mainly for education came back to their native place because the education they were getting in the city was now possible in the village.

About S.F. Memorial School

Our school S. F. MEMORIAL SCHOOL, is one of the projects initiated by Young blood of Jaunpur Tehri Garhwal under Shivaya Jan Lok Sewa Samiti (S.J.L.S.S.) realized we shared a desire to make a difference in the lives of the Jaunpur/Garhwal people. The ShriChand Fauji Memorial School –SFMS– is a not for profit, school for children living in the Jaunpur , Garhwal region of Uttarkhand, India. S. F. Memorial School is registered with the Uttarakhand Board of Education, under the Right To Education Act.

We opened our doors on September 1st, 2016 in response to the very poor quality of education in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, and as a means to alleviate the rampant poverty in the area.

Our Journey

Our school began in a Panchayat Bhavan with only 11 students. But as we began our work the number of students began to increase. Within three months we had twelve children, and after one year we had grown to 51. By the end of the second year we had 83 and at the end of the third year we had registered more than 120 students.

After the Corona period, where the spirit of the big institutions was broken, we encouraged and operated the school again with the same energy. It is also wrong to say that there is no financial burden on educational institutions after Corona. The financial condition of the school is very pathetic and we are struggling due to lack of resources.

After Covid -19 Currently we have 54 students in S. F. Memorial School and classes from Lower Kindergarten to class 8th . The change in the students of our school was seen by the local people, as a result of which the faith of the people increased and we are taking forward the same faith.

Almost all of our students come from extremely poor homes. We started this school that would offer our village children an excellent education and a fighting chance to better their lives so they would not have to struggle to survive in the same harsh way their parents have had too. Our goal is to offer them a world class education so they might pull themselves out of poverty, and in turn help their communities.

Our villagers struggle to make a living. Global climate changes have resulted in less rainfall, unpredictable monsoons, and a drop in the water tables making it very difficult for families to sustain themselves by farming alone. As the quality of education is sadly lacking in our area, most young people have not mastered the educational skills that would help them win scholarships for higher education or compete for good paying jobs. Young men migrate to cities for poor-paying labor and women simply hope to secure a good marriage into a family where they will not have to serve as farm workers as their mothers have.

Given the state of education in our area, We decided to open an English Medium School which would include computer classes in its curriculum. Children who can speak English and who are computer literate have an upper hand in getting into good universities and securing better paying jobs. However, these skills alone are still not enough. Children need to have quality education in order to succeed. Every day we are accepting new children – all coming from a range of schools and learning experiences.

Our Vision

S.F.M.S. wishes for emergence of leaders from amongst the poorest populations. We endeavor to provide underprivileged children with the wherewithal to realize their inner potential and empower them to pursue their dreams of a good life.

There were many challenges to teaching as many of our students were labeled „unteachable‟ by other schools. As a result, too many children believed themselves to be dull and incapable of learning. We have worked very hard to show these children, through different methods, that they are capable of learning through hard work, study, and above all perseverance.

We realized early on that we needed to incorporate methods to build mental skills thus allowing the children to visualize concepts. We incorporate projects that encourage the children to work through problems so they develop understanding through doing and feel the sense of accomplishment once they have mastered a task. For our children, this technique has paid off tremendously. Children who were labeled in their previous schools as „un-teachable‟ are excelling and gaining tremendous confidence as a result. As teachers, we need to recognize that every child is different and that they learn in different ways and it is our job to find the way to teach to each and every one of them. This can only be accomplished through small class sizes where the children receive one on one interaction with the teachers.

Education in impoverished areas such as ours however, requires more than good teaching methods and books. At the same time we outfit our children with school uniforms. Thanks to donations from good hearted people we have been able to provide our children with shirt, trouser and coat for the colder months. We believe that in order to function to their full potential, a child should look and feel good too. Through donations we have also been able to provide our children with books, sports toys and track suits and stationary supplies.

To provide the best education to the children of BPL family in the Rural Areas. To provide free school uniforms and books to the children. To focus not just on the bookish knowledge but to the practical implementation of theoretical concepts. Working in the direction to stop the migration of people from hilly areas to the urban cities due lack of well education, employment and health related facilities.

Conduct time to time debate over major problems of hilly areas and social awareness programs.

Working to find out the best solutions for the major reason of migration and working on the project called “REVERSE MIGRATION”