Building Confidence and Learning in Rural India
Located in a farming community in India, Bharath Vidyalaya opened in 2010 as an English-medium school, using both Tamil and English as its primary languages of instruction. This approach was intended to address concerns about English fluency, which many farmers believed would shape their children’s future opportunities. As Sharmila explained, “Children may do well in academics, but later they are not selected in interviews because of poor English.So, we help them learn their lessons well while encouraging them to speak in English from the lower classes. "
The school quickly grew with about 300 learners enrolled within five years of opening despite having limitedresources. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this progress, reducing enrollment to only 50 students. They also struggled with teacher retention, classroom engagement, and the absence of a budget to run the school.
“When I took on the Administrator role, I discovered that the school lacked a formal budget. Staff's retention was abysmal, with teachers frequently leaving their positions mid-term, and teaching was solely textbook-focused. Sharmila Magesh, Administrator, explains: “Learners were afraid of making mistakes and refused to participate in class discussions, while others avoided attendance altogether because they knew they would be scolded or beaten for giving a wrong answer”. Sharmila understood that rebuilding required a robust foundation and targeted expert guidance.
Bharath Vidyalaya joined Opportunity International’s EduQuality program in 2023 to strengthen its financial management and marketing, train its teachers, and improve classroom management so learners could receive the best possible education. Through targetedcapacity building, Sharmila received training that helped her rebuild the school’s administrative structures and improve the quality of education. “I understand that budgeting is very important,” she explains. “We needed to track exactly how much we collect and spend so we can maintain a balanced, sustainable income.”
To address staff turnover, she introduced full-academic-year contracts with performance incentives, which encouraged teachers to stay.The absence of a budget previously made it difficult to manage expenses and pay teachers consistently but with a budget in place, the school could now determine affordable wages and offer teachers formal contracts, which had not been possible before. With the school’s finances in check, Teacher Mentor Professional Development (TMPD) aspect of the EduQuality Program gave teachers the opportunity to strengthen their classroom management skills. Manjula, a Standard 1 teacher,by means of practice introduced interactive teaching techniques such as “Cold Call” and “Turn and Talk” to actively engage her learners. "Instead of strictly following the textbook, I resort to interactive teaching methods, and the leaners understand the material much better.“If a learner answers incorrectly, I only use positive instructions to guide them.” she recounts .Speaking to the improved classroom culture as result of the program, Manjula says learners are now more relaxed and confident because they know teachers will not scold or beat them, which has encouraged greater participation and punctuality.
To ensure education remains accessible, Bharath Vidyalaya charges an all-inclusive annual fee of (USD 208.00). "We give them everything.That includes notebooks, three sets of uniforms, and activities such as yoga, and reading classes.This time, we are even adding social and physical wellness programs." Sharmila explains. Enrollment has since increased from 50 to 90 students after their student population dropped by 84% due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The school continues to build on these gains to achieve its vision of securing a brighter, more confident future for the community's next generation. With support from Opportunity International EduFinance, Bharath Vidyalaya is not only regaining its footing but also expanding access to quality education for more children in the community.