Asha for Education
Jeevan Gnanodaya Update Call
November 8th 2011
Meeting Minutes:
Meeting Attendees:Ankur (UIUC), Shankar (ex-UIUC), Charanya and Vishwas (Austin), and Mr Devarajan
Updates since last call in May:
· School reopened after the summer break on June 3rd.
· 13 children passed 10th grade exam.
· ITI: 9 students took the exam, currently waiting for results.
· 6 new female teachers specially trained teachers recruited this year - from Thiruvannamalai.
o 4 teachers staying in the hostel.
o 2 BA educated, 4 Diploma holders - special training to teach deaf children.
o Teachers typically have a 2-yr contract, after which they tend to leave for marriage etc.
· No leave after quarterly exams this year since the term started late this time due to Tamil Nadu elections. With the new government, syllabus went through some changes. Textbooks were received late from the state board. Quarterly exams covered only 2 months of material.
· IIT placement - status will be known only after results. Mr D has approached a few companies, but not able to make progress without exam results, which are expected mid-November.
o Been harder to find jobs for students from far off areas like Pudhukottai/Erode since parents want jobs in companies nearby and not in Chennai city. Example: BHEL (Bharath Heavy Electrical Limited) in Pudhukottai.
· Wedding Hall: Dates being booked in the Jan/Feb time frame after the inauspicious period in December. Bookings have already started to come in. Construction is more or less complete.
o Full-time staff will include 2 managers, booking agent, and 2 watchmen - day and night.
o Extra help needed only during actual weddings, will be hired on a contract basis.
o Plan is to fund wedding hall labor costs (manager/watchmen using the hall income eventually. Currently Mr D funds the watchmen (8000 Rs/mth). No manager expenses yet, only when the wedding season starts is the manager required.
o Wedding hall booking advance money expected a month before actual event, which will also help with payments.
o 30000 Rs loan repayment cost per month. Mostly comes from local donations.
· Primary school fees used to be 1000 Rs. This year, the government asked for a fee increase.Mr D to scan and send the government order to us.
o LKG: 3000 Rs., 1st: 3500 Rs., 2nd: 4000 Rs., 3rd/4th: 4500 Rs., 5th: 5000 Rs.
o This additional fee is to spend on teachers/books/stationery/uniforms/other resources, and ensure a certain standard is maintained in the school.
o 238 children in the primary school.
o Parents are okay with this. Other schools charge 10-12K, so in comparison, 4-5K is reasonable.
o 90% of the payment used for school. Mr D uses 5-10% for loan repayment, etc.
· JG needs to register with the Tamil Nadu government every 3 years. Renewal coming up next June 30th. 150,000 Rs needs to be paid as a registration fee. Certain school standards have to met - increase teacher/child ratio might be needed. Schools for disabled children need a 7:1 ratio ideally.
· School still plans to become self-sustaining by 2013.
· Mr D is looking forward to 2nd disbursement from all 3 chapters.
· Site visit expected in December by Charanya's mom. Exact date to be confirmed.Questions for this visit to besent to Charanya.