HT : Graduation IS NO LONGER A distant dream :Oct 5,2007

Graduation IS NO LONGER A distant dream
 WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY GETS WOMEN FROM BANDRA SLUMS TO REGISTER FOR DISTANCE
EDUCATION GRADUATION COURSES
 Venetia Fernandes
Mumbai

FIFTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD Khatoon Shaikh could choose to talk about how her parents
thought it unnecessary for her to complete her Urdu-medium education beyond
Class 7. She could also be grumbling about the difficulty of learning the
Barakhadi (alphabets in Hindi) at age 51.

But what she can't stop talking about is acing the 'social awareness' paper,
which is part of the entrance examination she has been preparing for. "So
what if I failed the entrance last year. This year I will succeed. I will
graduate," she says.

Khatoon is one of 44 adult students from the Behrampada, Navpada and Bharat
Nagar slums in Bandra (E) who has signed up for the Education at Doorstep
programme 2007.

Initiated by the SNDT University's Center for Distance Education (CDE), the
programme prepares applicants over a period of four months for the
University Entrance Test (UET) - their ticket to CDE's three-year Bachelors'
programme. The UET preparatory course comes for a fee, but for women
registering under the Doorstep programme it's free.

"A study carried out by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Women's Research
and Action Group (WRAG) in 2005 revealed that there were 600 women dropouts
in Behrampada slums. Of these, 340 had not undergone basic formal education.
We decided to reach out to them rather than wait for them to sign up," says
Dr Chandrakant Puri, director, CDE.

So, in August 2006, Puri and WRAG members, went door to door convincing
women dropouts to sign up for the UET preparation. It was not an easy job.
"The community leaders would ask, 'Inko aur padayi kyon karna hain? (Why do
they need to study further?)," says Puri.

The women who did come forward faced criticism. "People in the area would
say, 'What does she think of herself ? She should be teaching her children;
instead she is going out to study'," explains Puri.

But the women were encouraged by the volunteers SNDT had sent forth -
distance education students, many of whom had been school dropouts
themselves. "I enrolled because I was keen on completing my education, and
volunteering for the Doorstep programme increased my interest in my own
studies," says 24-yearold Muskan Sheikh.

Thirty-six women applied for UET 2006, of which 27 made it through the
November 2006 examination.

Over the last four months, UET 2007's 44 applicants - between 21and 51 years
have been attending six-hour classes every Sunday. Their objective -
Graduation Day 2011. "We have over 100 faculty coaching students at centres
in Malad, Ghatkopar, Churchgate and Dombivli," says Puri. The preparation
course, offered in the Hindi, English, Marathi and Gujarati is the most
challenging for these women, most of whom are Class 6 and 7 dropouts from
Urdu-medium institutes.

"As I knew only Urdu I spent four months last year learning barakhadi from a
resident of my locality. Age is my biggest problem, it's difficult to
memorise four subjects (Hindi, social science, social awareness and learning
skills)," says 51year-old Khatoon, pointing to a dog-eared social awareness
textbook.

And while Khatoon prepares for her second attempt at UET, 37-year-old
Shaheen Sultan's 18-year-old son, a commerce student, helps her with algebra
formulae. "I am now confident of my multiplication, division, addition and
subtraction. But algebra problems are complicated," smiles Sultan, a Class
10 dropout.

As the women leaf through their notes between household chores, iftaar
parties and volunteering at community self-help groups, their stories
inspire others to sign up. "If my mother can get back to books at her age,
even I can do my graduation," says 21-year-old Shaheen, Khatoon's daughter
who is a Class 12 dropout.

Thirty-eight-year-old Razzak is in awe of his wife Suraiya's achievement. "I
have studied up to Class 10. After seeing Suraiya, who is also a Class 10
dropout, study for her BA, I want to do my graduation as well," he says.
venetia.fernandes@hindustantimes.com THE ROAD Ahead The person behind the
initiative DR CHANDRAKANT PURI The Doorstep School was started by Dr
Chandrakant Puri, director, CDE, SNDT, in August 2006.

The relatively low percentage of Muslim women signing up for higher
education also prompted Puri to start their campaign in the Behrampada
slums.

"Distance education today is about wall-less classrooms and faceless
students. We hope that more women sign up for such initiatives," says Dr.
Chandra Krinshmurthy, vice chancellor, SNDT Women's University.
Puri is now set to unveil his next project - School on Wheels. "We plan to
equip a bus with computers and other study aid. Our faculty can then move
out into the smaller towns to spread awareness about UET, get women to sign
up and prepare them for the exam." Akhtari SHEIKH 'I will be able to help
maintain records at the Saheli Mahila Mandal' She didn't make it through UET
2006, but 40-year-old Sheikh is determined to pass in the November exams. "I
had to give up studies in Class 6 as I had two brothers and a sister to look
after. I was married soon after," says the mother of three.

On graduating, Sheikh plans to take English classes and study computers. "I
will then be able to help maintain records at Saheli Mahila Mandal (a
Behrampadabased self-help group) office," she says.

SHAIKH 'This education will help me get somewhere in life' Shaikh, a Class
12 dropout, decided to appear for UET 2007 after her mother Khatoon Sheikh
signed up in November 2006.

The mother and daughter now encourage each other. "She is so busy that I
have to remind her to set aside time for study," she laughs. The 21-year-old
plans to pursue post-graduation in social work. "This education will help me
get somewhere in life." Shaheen 'When I saw other women sitting for the
exam, I decided to give it a shot' It's role reversal for the 37year-old who
consults her 18-year-old son on math problems. "When I saw other women
appearing for exams, I decided to give it a shot," says Sultan. "Once I
graduate I want to do a diploma in stitching."

Publication : HT; Section : The Idea; Pg : 2; Date : 5/10/07
URL :
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=05_10_2007_006_002&typ=0&pub=264