Inspiring Stories - Valmikinagar

Valmikinagar near Mysore Road is a predominantly Muslim low-income area that is home to a population of around 10,000 people. The long narrow lanes teem with life, colour, industry and above all children ranging all sizes and ages. Small industries of every type- mechanics, auto repair workshops, agarbatti karkhanas, beedi making units, scrap and recycling shops, butchers, bakers, small time vendors of vegetables, fruits, clothes can be found at every turn.

Amidst all the flurry of movement and activity one nevertheless senses the steady, unhurried pace of life obvious in the small groups of men and women gathered around to discuss local news and events. Tucked away in one of the lanes, children's voices chorus “ Machili jal ki rani hai”. Closer up, one can see three women organising a class of 35 children, occupied with rhymes and writing, while two are involved with some children who are filling up booklets spread out before them on the floor. We have stumbled upon a preschool, one among the ten other preschools in this area, where the children are filling up a booklet. One may be excused for thinking that the woman so involved with the children is the teacher, however it turns out she is the mother of one of the children, who after supporting her child to complete the booklet, has stayed on to encourage and support another five children; while the teacher looks after some of the other children. This parent is one of the many parents who through their involvement with the preschool in all its various aspects display a sense of ownership both of the facility as well as their children's education.

A subsequent meeting to discuss the children's learning and its documentation was held. The clear understanding of the values behind understanding children's learning levels as opposed to mainstream standard testing and its impact on children is a telling endorsement of the commitment those parents had towards the wellbeing and education of their children. This is made even more striking by the fact that most of the parents were illiterate. The parents of the Madrasa preschool are an example of the slow but sure impact that is fostered by the community's involvement in education. It holds out hope that a further involvement of parents in their children's higher education will bring about changes that can ensure that learning becomes a meaningful process for children. The community owned preschool is one of the first steps in that direction.