Date: 16th December 2008

Appeal to Civil Society Members to Provide Data and Research on Children in Schools

Dear Members of the Civil Society,

Schooling and school participation constitute an important period in children’s lives and education is the first amongst the developmental rights of the child. Post Dakar there is a paradigmatic shift in setting educational goals for children at the international and national levels– which in essence speaks of enrolment, retention and school participation. Several efforts have been made through innovative ways and programs to ensure continued education for children up to a minimum of 14 years of age. At the national level, towards universalisation of elementary education, DPEP, EGS, SSA have been carried out since the Dakar goals were set in. This, numerous agencies believe that, has enhanced access and retention of children in schools. The State and the civil society are making tenacious efforts to address these issues through continued efforts to improve functioning of schools, enhance access, enrolment and retention. The question is how to support improvement in access and retention quantitatively. Two sources come to mind: government and non-governmental sources – both have data on number of children in schools. This data is of paramount significance to understand the efforts made by state and civil society in ensuring school education to children.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) received several requests, suggestions to augment data of children in schools. Towards this, the commission seeks information on sources where data and research is available and also data and research that may be available with you. There might be numerous sources that you may help us locate and facilitate generation of data and research on children in schools up to 10^th standard.

The commission understands that there may prevail, varied views in measuring enrolment and retention of children in schools. We would like to understand the problem in depth, should such variations in views prevail. Therefore we welcome data and research generated through any method and methodology you may have employed. The purpose of study may also vary, some of which we guess may have been done:

1) To produce empirical evidences on children in school

2) To produce empirical evidence on children out of school – bring out invisibility of children out of school

3) To advocate for complete access and retention of children in schools

What is of significance to us is, essentially data and research on children in school. Purpose of generation of such data and research and method through which it has been generated too has value at this point. However, both are not sole criteria for seeking information. Analysis and understanding of data will follow later.

We suggest you provide wider circulation to this appeal amongst your contacts.

 The whole exercise of collecting information from civil society will come to a close on 30^th January 2008 and the final report will be produced by the 30^th March 2008. Hence, we appeal to you to provide information by the suggested date.

Thanking You,

Ravi, S.K.

Consultant

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

CC.

Prof.Shantha Sinha, Honourable Chairperson, NCPCR

Ms.Dipa Dixit, Honourable Member, NCPCR