While private and corporate schools are struggling hard to get admissions and some government school teachers are even hitting the road desperate to secure fresh admissions, the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Schools are running at full strength in Krishna district.
As many as 600 children are studying in 16 schools, being run by the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), also known as Special Training Centres (STCs). Interestingly, more than 50% are girls.
NCLP schools are located at Penuganchiprolu, Bangarupeta, Chillakallu, Donabanda, Bhavanipuram, YSR Colony, Vambay Colony, Rajiv Nagar, Goodmenpeta (in Gudivada), Chenchula Colony, Hanuman Colony and NTR Colony in Pedana, Devunithota and Campbellpeta in Machilipatnam and other places.
Slums targeted
“We are running the schools mostly in slums and in SC/ST colonies, for providing education to the poor and migrant families. The strength of the YSR Colony school is about 100, which is the highest among all NCLP schools,” said Krishna district Project Director (PD) D. Anjaneya Reddy.
“The capacity of each school is 50, and our focus is on never enrolled children in slums, industrial areas such as quarries, brick kilns, dropout children, migrants and minors caught during child labour drives. We have 35 teaching staff and special attention is being paid to girl child education, the PD said.
Under the project, vocational training, mid-day meal, stipend of ₹ 400 per month and medical aid were being provided for all students in the NCLP schools. Besides academics, the students were active in extracurricular activities too, said NCLP field coordinator B. Prasanna.
“In our school, teachers are giving training in embroidery, painting and interior designing courses. We have separate vocational instructors,” N. Panaria and Y. Lakshmi Chandrika studying in YSR Colony School, said.
“We are participating in all government programmes such as ‘Badi Pilustondi’, ‘Ammaku Vandanam’, ‘Swachh Bharat’ and the anti-child labour drives. Six hundred students have been mainstreamed in the last few years from NCLP Schools, and they are pursuing higher education,” Mr. Reddy said.