Challenges and Solutions for Community Schools

For nearly a decade and a half, a pile of challenges has accumulated on community schools according to local characteristics. It is not good for the literate and conscious class that these schools, built, identified, and established by the first generation of the community for us, are seen under a pile of challenges and found to be problematic.

As a serious effect and impact of this, on one hand, the government's investment of 39 thousand 7 hundred 93 rupees per child annually for the educational development of community schools has been like pouring water into sand. On the other hand, the various types of schools that have been brought into operation as alternatives to community schools have not only created confusion and dilemma for the local community but have also forced them to bear the burden of one-sided education and teaching.

We do not have such a long history of community education, schools, and teaching. We have barely reached the second to occasionally the third generation. Community schools, developed along with the development of society, and the teaching here are undeniable truths. Its alternative is only the additional activism that should be done by you and us in educational development activities.

Just as the first generation made tireless contributions to build and operate community schools and as a result, we received education, our activism as the successor power to this first generation for hopeful good education is the need of today.

In the meantime, complaints have been expressed in our name that community education has been weakened, community teaching has been slowed down, various types of schools have been operated as alternatives to community education, education has been made a marketable commodity, local parents and concerned teachers-employees themselves send their children to study in various types of schools, and the local community is burdened in the name of expensive education.

Even today, about 29 percent of the productive youth in rural areas go abroad just to earn the expenses needed to support their children's education and their family's health treatment. After this hopeful and energetic section of the household leaves the country, there has been a decline in the manpower for cultivating fields. Due to the lack of manpower, fields remain barren. Due to the lack of production, a large number are becoming dependent and reliant.

If all parents and subject teachers engage with unwavering dedication, honesty, and integrity in fulfilling their respective responsibilities, we will be able to answer with our work, performance, and behavior. Gradually, we will be able to reawaken the lost trust in community schools.

So far, the educational manpower available in the labor market is mainly the product of community schools. That is, yesterday we were 100% dependent on community schools. Today, that dependence is decreasing. In urban areas depending on the geography, 33 to 39 percent, and in rural areas, 47 to 53 percent of students are based in community schools. The mentioned numbers and their statistics may be one aspect! However, if we succeed in improving the quality of education in community schools, the attraction towards community schools will definitely increase. For this, our specific plan and skills are the first and mandatory condition.

The role of local school lovers and stakeholders in improving the quality of education in community schools may be one aspect, but the daily presence and active participation of subject teachers and parents is an extraordinary matter in itself. The attention of all of us responsible should be drawn to this.

If you ask some people what the problem of a particular school is, they will respond with a list of deficiencies in the school's vehicle, playground, physical location, and infrastructure development. A school is not just a collection of buildings, classrooms, and textbooks; it is a common space for the local community to build society and determine the future.

The main issue here is teaching and its role as a basis for producing capable manpower needed by society, the core of the result. Today's quality education is the basis for building capable, disciplined, and responsible citizens of tomorrow. We want to place our children in this category. Therefore, improving the education and educational quality of community schools is the common duty and responsibility of all of us.

In the last few years, some schools have been making various efforts to provide excellent education, discipline, ethics, and practical skills to our students. This is also reflected in the daily activities and results of the school. However, the school's sole effort is not enough. Active participation of parents, teachers, and the community is essential for student learning, learning outcomes, behavioral improvement, regularity, and overall personality development, which is rarely seen except for exceptions.

For this, we can start the following tasks immediately:

1) There is capable educational manpower in community schools. The community and the government are there for its complete support and reliance. Let the subject teachers, without any malice or discrimination, approach each child of every community with affection as their own children, teach them, and help them grow!

2) If this is done, every child will consider the school as their second home and the subject teacher as a reliable guardian. If the school is considered a home and the subject teacher as a guardian, they will study with enthusiasm, grow, and pass the class with excellent results.

3) Yes, children from weak, poor, disadvantaged, and dependent communities come to community schools on average. Let's consider this as the identity and pride of the school! Let's stay in regular contact with the school, subject teachers, and parents to make the family cooperation sweet for this group that has grown up without affection.

4) After all, a student remains under the teacher's care for a maximum of 7 hours. Otherwise, they remain under parental supervision. Therefore, let each of us parents pay attention to our children's regular school attendance, classroom activities, and homework at home.

5) Let parents take daily interest in their children's company, associations, habits, demeanor, classroom homework, subject studies, and school activities, encourage the children themselves for this, and contact the class teacher as needed.

6) Let us parents attend the general meetings, parent-teacher meetings, subject-wise interaction sessions, and activities based on student learning organized by the school mandatorily.

7) If they go wrong, it is not the school, but our children who will go wrong. Our future will be ruined, and our investment will be wasted. Therefore, besides passing the class level, do our children have the discipline, moral conduct, and positive thinking necessary for the development of a capable citizen? Let's check, test, and stay in regular contact with the school!

8) Let us parents provide constructive support for the subject suggestions, action plans, and educational improvement campaigns that students sometimes receive from the school, and rather provide suggestions to the teachers regarding household matters!

9) Let the teachers also work with more dedication by focusing on student-centered teaching, regular evaluation, creating a creative learning environment, and coordinating continuously with parents!

Finally,

Only through the common effort, positive thinking, and responsible participation of all of us can our school be developed as a quality, competitive, and exemplary educational institution. We need to make our schools competitive enough to sell and survive in the market, not by envying others, but by having a spirit in our hearts.

We need to build a school that can overcome any obstacles and outperform everyone in results. Let's preserve and protect this community education and schools built by our respected elders! Let's increase active participation for hopeful good education and teaching. This school is our common property, a local heritage. Building its progress is our common responsibility.

How to make our school a good school? Where to join under the campaign 'We Improve Our School'? This is the time to start the academic session. Let's all join hands in the campaign to improve the school. It is not others who will build our children, but we ourselves. Let's take the initiative for this! Let's all unite in building a bright future for our children based in community schools!