Perceiving a strong correlation between poor quality education and the increasing incidence of child labour, MAYA's educational interventions address the right of every child to quality education. The focus of this work is primarily on structural reform of the educational system through Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) and Prajayatna.
Early childhood care & education
MAYA supports communities in imparting high-quality, relevant ECCE by facilitating the formation of community-run preschools which reflect local needs and realities. These preschools are managed by local community institutions and incorporate local knowledge and traditions for the education of young children. In a context in which low-income parents are forced to work for economic reasons, the preschools free up older children from having to care for younger siblings, so that they can attend school. Simultaneously, younger children receive quality ECCE, which prepares them for success as they approach school-age.
Prajayatna, or “Citizens’ Initiative” in Kannada, is a statewide citizens' movement for creating systemic change in the educational system. Prajayatna seeks to enable community ownership of elementary education in Karnataka. In this model, communities set their own agenda, based on local needs, for the education of their children. Prajayatna works with communities, school committees, teachers, bureaucracy, elected representatives and officers of the Education Department across seven districts of the State of Karnataka to build lasting institutional structures that will facilitate community control over education. For more information, please visit the Prajayatna website.
