Gram Vikas residential schools provide high-quality and technology up-to-date education for children from adivasi communities and continue to impact the education sector in India. Six teachers and two administrators from the Residential Bridge School in Singla, run by Barefoot College in Tilonia, visited Gram Vikas High School, Kankia (GVHS), on 21-22 July 2023 for an exposure visit.

During their stay, they had fruitful interactions with the teachers and students of GVHS. They also had the opportunity to explore various facilities, such as Kalpanadham, the Oracle computer lab, and the Atal Tinkering Lab. Additionally, they spent valuable time with the primary school students.

Barefoot College, also known as the Social Work and Research Centre (SWRC), was established in 1972 in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan with the noble aim of bridging the inequality gap, demystifying technology, and empowering marginalised communities by equipping them with technology skills despite their limited education.

The Residential Bridge School in Singla, run by Barefoot College, has Classes from 1-5 and a 100-seated hostel to accommodate students from marginalised families. Many students in the school hail from migrant-dependent families, so the school faces regular dropouts.

Over the years, the organisation has made significant strides and currently conducts literacy classes, health campaigns, water resource programs, and study centres for the rural community of Singla.

Manohar Lal, who teaches Hindi to students at the Residential Bridge School, expressed his happiness about how teachers at GVHS interact with their students and their dedication to their roles, “ The practice of teachers spending extra time coaching students before and after regular school hours is admirable. This has resulted in students being more focused and motivated. I would like to invite the teachers of Kankia High School to visit our school in Singla and experience the teaching methods there.”

Radharamani Beura, the headmistress of GVHS and a social studies teacher, says about the visit< “The visiting team inquired about the challenges faced in rural Odisha regarding primary education, student dropouts, and the school’s admission process. The teachers from our school are particularly interested in the plantation activities and water management practices of Barefoot College.”

In appreciation of the visit and to showcase their culture, the students of GVHS organised a cultural event to entertain and engage the visitors.

The interaction between the two schools has fostered a spirit of collaboration and knowledge exchange, benefiting both institutions in their respective missions of providing quality education and uplifting their communities.