Olcott Memorial High School Besant Nagar Chennai90 Fund

Olcott Memorial High School Besant Nagar Chennai-90 Fund Raising Proposal January 2009

Olcott Memorial High School (OMHS) • Free school for socially • Established 1894 and economically less • Location: Theosophical privileged children Society Campus, • School seeks to remedy Besant Nagar, Chennai built-in disabilities of environment and nutrition • • • Co-education Classes I through X Tamil medium Boys: Girls = 37: 26 Student strength = 632

OMHS Context • Children from nearby slums: fisherfolk, coolies, housemaids etc • Homes of children • Annual income of Rs. 15 -20 thousand • Rampant domestic OMHS seeks to provide a violence, alcoholism, vibrant, happy environment women & child abuse for holistic learning

Curriculum • Affiliated to the Tamil Nadu State Board – Tamil - first language – English -second language – Maths, Science, Social Sciences subjects • Students appear for SSLC (Class X) certificate examinations after 10 years of schooling • Students of Class VIII – X learn vocational skills – Tailoring, Embroidery, Drawing and painting, Food preservation and baking, Carpentry, Book binding, Screen Printing, Fabric design, Jewellery making

Initiatives • Nutrition program – Mid-day meal enriched with sambhar, rice, vegetables – Breakfast at 9: 30 am of Kanji (ragi, cereals, pulses) • Classroom provisions – All students provided with good quality notebooks – TN Govt covers 100% of textbook needs • Uniforms: 2 good quality uniforms/year/student

Initiatives • Technology Aided Learning (TAL) – Projection equipment and digital lessons to enrich learning of maths, science, social studies • Special Program for English and Language Learning (SPELL) – To help students with comprehension, oral and written expression in English • Primary Resource Centre – To improve social and thinking skills through educational games and associated activities • Library – Reasonable collection • Games and Sports – Large playground

Teachers: The School’s Lifeline • Teachers come from community in and around Adyar • Teachers interested in education of underprivileged children Committed teachers are responsible for the unique set of initiatives in the school

Issues that need support • Teacher and Staff Salaries – – Average teacher salary stands at Rs. 2500/month Average staff salary stands at Rs. 1350/month Most teachers struggle to sustain families Many well-trained teachers leave • Health and Nutrition – Parents cannot take care of sick children at home – Supporting medical expenses is increasingly demanding • School pays for 3 -5 days of medicines, plasters etc • Free eye check-up, special equipment for the disabled provided

Proposal • Salaries – Raise average teacher salary from Rs. 3250/month to Rs. 5000/month over 2 years – Raise average support staff salary from Rs. 1800/month to Rs. 2100/month over 3 years • Increase annual health and nutrition budget by 15%

Proposal Continuing Impact • Retention of teachers • Continued medical support to students Budget Implications • 15% increase in 2010 -11 over 2009 -10 • From Rs 36. 8 lakh/year to Rs. 42 lakh/year • 15% increase in 2011 -12 over 2010 -11 • From Rs. 42 lakh/year to Rs. 48 lakh/year

Support Sought from Asha for Education • Increased budget needs 2010 -2011 = INR 7 lakh • Increased budget needs 2011 -2012 = INR 7 lakh • Total support for 2 years = Rs 14 lakhs =USD 31000 @ Rs 45 to I USD