The Concept: Why An Ekal School

On the Children's Terms
For many rural and tribal children, a formal education is unattractive because: (a) they must travel great distances to attend school; (b) school hours interfere with the children's family responsibilities; (c) the children do not have the funds for uniforms and books; (d) neither the teachers nor the curriculum give due consideration to their needs and life experience. Though the government has implemented many schemes to educate rural and tribal children, their literacy rate remains staggeringly low.

In contrast, Ekal Vidyalaya has designed a non-formal education program customized to meet the needs of rural and tribal children. First, the children are taught in their native language (and then in either the state or national language). Second, Ekal Vidyalaya classes are scheduled to meet the needs of the village children and are often adapted depending on the season and harvest schedule. Third, the school curriculum is tailored to teach the children basic literacy and life skills to help them develop self-confidence and succeed in rural occupations or pursue a higher education if they choose.

One of the strengths of Ekal Vidyalaya's non-formal education program is that it can be run on the children's terms. The Ekal Vidyalaya takes into consideration their schedule, their experience, their needs, their dreams. These children are the future. . . that is why it is important to take education to their doorstep and ignite their minds.

Friendly Teacher, Local Curriculum
Conventional subjects such as history, geography, science, and literature have little value in the lives of many rural and tribal children. They struggle to make ends meet in an agrarian economy. Often, they speak a local dialect far removed from the state or national language. To kindle an interest in education and to give due deference to their local customs and traditions, Ekal Vidyalaya commences with instruction in the local dialect. In addition, the Ekal Vidyalaya teacher is a friendly face familiar with the village children, traditions and customs. The teacher generally plays the role of an elder brother or sister. He or she plays, sings, educates, and empowers his or her children through non-formal education. The influx of new ideas filtered through familiar channels helps make learning dynamic and fun.

Emphasis on Quality
For Ekal Vidyalaya, education is more than book learning. Education is the assimilation of life-building, man-making, character-building ideas. To instill those principles requires skills and dedication. Ekal Vidyalaya takes great care in selecting and training its teachers to provide the best quality education possible.

Ekal Vidyalaya recruits teachers from local villages based on nominations from the village committee. Teachers must have the leadership inclination and be generally as knowledgeable as at least an eighth grader and a service mentality. Ekal Vidyalaya interviews each candidate to evaluate his or her interest and dedication to the community. Once selected, Ekal Vidyalaya indoctrinates the teachers with Ekal's unique holistic approach to education. Teachers undergo vigorous training to qualify them to run Ekal Vidyalaya schools. (See Teacher's Preparation). Also, supervisors and trainers regularly visit the schools to help enhance the quality of teaching. Lastly, supervised annual exams provide further reassurance that the school meets quality standards.