Ranchi: Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi and Save the Children India, Bal Raksha Bharat (SCBR) signed an MoU for a partnership of 100 Days of Action and Save Our Education Campaign with special emphasis on girls’ education.
The Rural Management (RM) Programme of XISS will be carrying out the activities mentioned in the MoU. Dr. Raj Shree Verma and Ms. Soumi Halder will be organising activities on behalf of XISS and Save The
Children respectively.
Girls’ Education during pandemic
This partnership is in time to amplify and advocate for educational rights of children in Jharkhand and across the country during the campaigning period starting from July 1, 2021 to September 8, 2021; thereby upholding basic education rights of children in the state and across the country, amid pandemic. According to experts the digital divide has disabled children to continue their education during Pandemic induced lockdown.
While signing the MoU, said,
“XISS is elated on this collaboration with Save The Children focusing on the educational rights
of children. The pandemic has affected in ways beyond imagination where several
children are unable to pursue their education due to the digital divide and closure of
schools. So, with this collaborative effort, we wish to bridge the gap and increase
awareness for maximum support from the government, civil societies, and educational
institutions.”- Director XISS Dr. Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ
The 100 days of action
Under this partnership, SCBR, and XISS will organise several action moments during this campaign such as Story Telling and Comic making competition in August, messages from the advocacy appeal for the campaign on social media will be shared, a Sign the Petition: www.change.org/100DaysOfAction will be done by students and fraternity, a webinar will be organised followed by discussions on issues related to child education amid pandemic. A debate competition titled The Voice of Change- “Is Online Education
a breach to the Right to Education” and “Pause and Think Moment’ was organised in this context earlier.
Experts speak
Dr. Himadari Sinha, Head, Rural Management Programme of XISS said that the association of XISS and Save The Children will increase the scope for advocacy for the educational rights of children. “Education is a basic right and this collaboration focuses on bringing this issue to the fore ”
Mr. Mahadev Hansda, Head – Project Office (Jharkhand), SCBR while elaborating the requirements of the MoU said, that they were happy to collaborate with XISS on the educational rights of children.
The collaborative efforts would help to amplify the importance of continuity of education amid the pandemic. The closure of schools have had an impact on children and it is anticipated that 10 million girls might not return to schools forever. So, we urge Government, CSOs, educational institutions
together to talk about the issue and support those children to continue their education.”
