ACC Newsletter 17_170717 Single Spread_lowres pdf

CSR Newsletter 17

Apr - Jun 2017

Together for
Communities

Special Edition on Education
(ACC Vidya Utkarsh)

Featured Projects

01 Reverse Migration to ACC VidyaUtkarsh
02 Government Schools -Gagal
03 ACC Vidya Utkarsh is a CSR project that aims to facilitate quality
04 Bridge Education Center education to every child in the host community. ACC facilitates
05 enhancement of quality education in the area through a hub
06 -Kymore and spoke model. There are 15 ACC established schools which
07 have positioned themselves as center of excellence over the past
08 School with distinguished decades. The center of excellence plays a role of hub to enhance
alumnus -Lakheri quality of education in 239 government run schools in the area.

Building as Learning Aid This project has five major interventions:

-Tikaria a) Teachers Training – Learning from CBSE Teachers Training
module, ASER Report and innovative methodologies like
Sikshana Foundation Model BALA, STEM etc are proactively adopted.

-Kudithini b) e-Learning – multimedia instructional design principles have
been adopted to facilitate effective learning. Educomp, IL&FS
ACC Teachers Education models are being used.

-Thondebhavi c) Library – to inculcate reading habit among the children and
exposing them to the world of imagination. It’s being done
Centre of excellence – ACC DAV with support of Pratham Books.

-Wadi d) Strengthening school management Committee – to ensure
positive participation of the community for better learning
Baal Sakhi environment, adequate facilities, quality time by teachers
and good governance, capacity building support is provided
-Chanda to the school management committee.

09 Supplementary teachers -Bargarh e) Scholarship – means cum merit scholarship for students
residing in fourteen districts spread across twelve states,
10 educating the Underprevileged who are pursuing studies after secondary level education.
11 It’s named as ACC VidyaSaarathi scholarship that available
12 -Chaibasa through an online portal developed in partnership with NSDL,
13
14 utkarsh Coaching Mapped to
15
-Jamul No of schools Number of
239 students
Building infrastructure
for education -Sindri 61,676

Joy of Reading No of libraries No of students with
237 access to e-learning
-Madukkarai
8,270
Quest for every child
making a grade -Damodhar No of girl
students
ACC KI LAADLI
Market Place – North 29,364

16 ACC VIDYASAARATHI

01 Reverse Migration to Gagal
Government Schools

The community needs assessment following objectives for the initiative assistance. Within a year of intervention,
exercise at Gagal Cement Works the average percentage score of
revealed that though the area is better to improve students’ performance in pre-test changed significantly. In 2015,
off in many development indicators, the Mathematics, Science and English the average percentage score for
grade specific learning levels among the students in English was 29% and in 2016,
children in government run elementary to encourage innovative teaching and it shot up to 51%. Similarly the average
schools is poor. learning techniques parentage score in Science in year 2015
was 35% which went up to 46% in
The teachers teaching in the secondary integration of technology in classroom 2016. As for Maths, the average
school and higher secondary schools in the teaching percentage score for all the students
area highlighted that with Sarva Shiksha in 2015 was 28 % which improved to
Abhiyan and Right to Education ACT, the capacity building of government 46 percent.
school infrastructure facilities have been teachers
strengthened however poor learning In addition to this training and
levels of the students in elementary To achieve the above objectives under assistance in teaching input, school
education is restricting the youth in the this project, government primary school infrastructure for the schools
area to achieve their potential. teachers were trained to use various were also strengthened further
innovative tools of teaching, such as strengthened. Moreover Activity Based
ACC Gagal thus collaborated with IL&FS Knowledge-Yan (K-Yan),which is an Learning model was also introduced,
education, an organization known integrated community computer that to provide students with learning
for its expertise in this domain, for functions as a computer, projector, and a rich environment and Child centric
improving quality of education in the television. It is designed to enable group- education.
government primary schools in the area. learning within a classroom setting
A pilot intervention was taken up in four and can be used on any wall, turning it These all efforts have another positive
government run primary schools. That into a projector screen. K-Yan has been impact on the community, it has
covered 547 students and 24 government very successful in imparting education been noted that there is a reverse
teachers. Prior to the intervention, these through electronic learning material migration of students from private
teachers in these schools lacked in basic that helps students grasp basic concepts schools to these government schools.
teaching techniques to impart quality easily as the learning happens through There are about 15 students who have
education among students. Audio – Video medium. enrolled back into the government run
primary schools where ACC Gagal’s
ACC, while initiating the interventions IL&FS Education team also appointed intervention is undergoing.
with IL&FS education, had set the nine supplementary Teachers and one
Project Coordinator cum technology
person for coordination, training and

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
5 students 30 access to e-learning students

1946 1577 962

01

02 Bridge Education Center KYMORE

The host communities around ACC The gap between potential and To bridge this gap ACC Kymore
Kymore is predominantly poor, performance of the students could initiated Bridge Education Centers in
occupied in low remunerating jobs be attributed to certain fundamental the neighborhood villages, wherein
as labour in farm, lime-kiln, brick kiln, bottlenecks such as lack of educated youth or daughter-in-laws of the
private quarries etc. For students in infrastructure, non availability of trained village itself were engaged for teaching
Amehta and other nearby villages of teachers, parents unable to afford English, Science and Mathematics.
ACC Kymore Cement Works, qualifying private tuitions for their wards and These Teachers have been engaged
the school leaving examination and low premium on education in the through a proper selection process. An
securing the first division seemed community. Poor education made orientation of these young teachers
like a distant dream. For majority, youth of the area unemployable which was done to ensure appropriate delivery
scoring the second or third division resulted in mass unemployment that of the teaching modules to address the
itself was a challenge. The arrears in led to poverty, turning the entire process needs of the local students. Training
learning accumulated over the into a vicious cycle. A solution was Programmes are being organized for
schooling years reflected in the required to bridge the learning gap the Bridge Teachers - both in-house
students faltering at the school leaving which was economical, scalable and and external. Since the teachers belong
examination. effective. to the villages itself they could reach for
home visits and do counseling of the
parents too.

The classes are conducted in the
government school itself, pre or post
school hours. The students are also
provided with stationery material for
their study. At the time of enrollment a
Minimum level of Learning (MLL) test is
conducted to understand the learning
level of the child so that appropriate
focus could be given to each child, a
database of progress for each student is
maintained to monitor progress of each
one of them. Another test, Learn to Read
(L2R) is conducted at regular intervals
to understand the students’ growth,
potential and knowledge of the subjects.
These test results help the teachers

02

to define their next Plan of Action. Currently there are 19 teachers engaged has helped the community members
Effort in these centers is focused at in 15 Bridge Education Centers with an understand the importance of education,
strengthening the fundamental enrollment of 689 students from poor decrease drop-out rates and increase
understanding of the students in various backgrounds. community participation. The same
subject areas and not just following trend is visible in other project villages
syllabus books. Today, Education Department of Madhya as well. With availability of quality
Pradesh acknowledges the contribution education, the girls are beginning to
The result of the experiment immediately of the ACC Bridge Education Centers excel in examinations. The attendance at
paid off. The students enrolled in and say that pass percentage in school schools has also significantly improved.
the Bridge Education Centers far leaving examination have gone up where
outperformed the students who did ever ACC Bridge Education Centers Students of these centers are also
not participate in these supplementary are operating. Principal of School at involved directly in all launching
classes. The experiment that started Amheta has gone on record highlighting of various social development
with Kharkhari village in year 2010, that earlier passing percentage of initiatives in the villages through
has now been replicated in twelve of school was only 15% which has gone up spearheading various government
sixteen CSR focus villages of ACC Kymore. to 82%. Bridge Education programme programmes such as awareness
generation on sanitation, school
From a student to a teacher: enrollment, malnutrition, road safety
etc. They have become harbingers of
Mr. Amar Giri Goswami joined the Bridge Education programme in 8th standard. ACC Kymore CSR in the villages.
He was a sincere and diligent student. Amar aimed to study engineering and
hoped for a better life. Unfortunately, his father met with an accident, making the
financial conditions unstable. Last year, Amar appeared for JEE examination
and scored 60%. Since he couldn’t join any government college, he joined
ITI-Vijayraghavgarh. To help his family cope with the financial crisis, he applied
for teaching at the Bridge programme. He cleared his written test and personal
interview and has been an encouraging teacher since then. Having faced
multiple turbulences in his life, Amar understands the importance of education
and has been motivating his fellow community members.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
47 students 26 access to e-learning students

7913 1517 3673

03

03 school with LAKHERI
distinguished alumnus

This is the centenary year for ACC teachers are well trained and are a part of fields, including, medicine, defense
Lakheri and for their social responsibility of the community. The school follows the services, engineering and administrative
initiatives. Among many such early state board syllabus and has classes from services.
initiatives it was on July 1, 1935, that 1st to 8th Standard.
Lakheri’s Upper Primary School registered The long list of alumni of this school also
its first student, Mr Suwa Lala, s/o Teachers here use different interactive includes among others, the Honorable
Mr Malia. This Hindi medium school and e-learning methods to enhance Cabinet Minister for Food and Civil
was established to impart qualitative student’s interest and attention. One Supplies, Government of Rajasthan
education to the community children, such popular method with the students i.e. Shri Babu Lal Verma, who also
and has delivered on this mandate since is the ‘the hole in the wall’ kiosk. This passed out from Lakheri’s Upper Primary
its establishment to this date. kiosk acts as a window to the world of School. He completed his schooling in
imagination for children and lets them 1968 and started his career in the banking
The school attracts students from all socio- learn and grow with fun. The school sector.
economic strata’s of the community. also has a well stacked library and a big
The fee today is very nominal, i.e., playground. In addition to this, ACC Lakheri also works
` 30 - ` 40 per month, making the school with other government schools in the
accessible to everyone. The school has all The school has also been recognized as area by providing them with e-learning
basic infrastructures, including, spacious one of the best schools in Bundi district facilities, libraries, teacher training
classrooms, tables and chairs, clean water in Rajasthan. The alumni of this school facilities, capacity building workshops for
drinking and sanitation facilities. Also, have established themselves in number School Management Committee.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
10 students 25 access to e-learning students

1150 820 490

04

04 Building as Learning Aid TIKARIA

Under the needs assessment in host (vii) teachers training not regular. All and reading tables were provided,
community undertaken by ACC Tikaria this obviously resulted in poor learning (iv) E-learning kiosk at 5 schools.
in the year 2013, while exploring the outcomes. The solution required work to
prevailing situation in the six schools of be undertaken on multiple dimensions. However for the second aspect it
the neighborhood villages it emerged needed some innovative measure. That
that the interventions in education had Thus the interventions envisaged were is when BALA i.e. ‘Building as Learning
to go beyond filling in the gaps, the Aid’ was thought of, as it’s a proven tool
intervention had to be long-term and (i) Provision for essential infrastructure recommended by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan,
sustained requiring significant resources. which livens up the learning school
(ii) Improve learning outcomes. environment and communicates to the
The issues included: (i) schools did not students without any medium. BaLA as it
follow prescribed learning and teaching For the first aspect i.e. provision of key is popularly known, is about developing
methods under SSA(e.g. BaLA), (ii) no infrastructure, which is essential for school spaces — the classrooms, the
separate toilet for girls, (iii) no facility for learning to happen were put in place floors, walls, doors, windows, pillars,
E-learning, (iv) almost minimal class room across all six intervention schools- corridors, the outdoor spaces and the
furniture, (v) broken hand pumps leading (i) New hand pumps were installed in natural environment — as learning
to paucity of drinking water, (vi) the pupil all the schools, (ii) desks were provided resources and makes learning easier and
student norm (1:25) not adhered to and for all class rooms, (iii) library with interactive. This tool was adopted, since
infrastructure like books, book racks it incorporates the ideas of activity based
learning, child friendliness and inclusive
education for children with special needs.

Local stakeholders were involved in
this process and local NGO, Dehat
was partnered with. Parents were
also consulted. Teachers were trained

05

under the BaLa tool and soon walls the same everyday at school helped in were administered a question paper
had illustrations which displayed learning and assimilation. with a set of questions related to BaLA
important dates from the history illustrations and a set from the text book
book, map of India and its states, This tool has effectively strengthened which did not have any corresponding
geometric shapes, alphabets, days of the student’s language, communication, BaLA illustration. 50% of the questions
the week and much more. Also, on the numeracy skills and has also relating to BaLA illustration were
walls were found names and images reinforced their observation skills correctly answered by the students
of role models like Jawaharlal Nehru, by involving multiple senses in the while only 10% of the non-BaLA
Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, learning process. questions elicited correct answers.
Bachendri Pal, Mother Teresa, Kalpana This clearly indicates the efficacy of
Chawla, Rakesh Shar- ma and many ACC CSR team did an assessment as the BaLA methodology in teaching and
others who have done India proud. to whether BaLA has any impact learning. BaLa incorporates the idea of
Having the chapters from the text on learning outcome. A sample of education is everywhere; you only
book, illustrated on the walls and seeing students from the project schools have to see carefully.

Mo. Wasim Khan, Principal, Junior High School, Annibaijal, shares:

“Before BaLA was adopted, students only had books to learn from. But ACC and Dehat team, both collected information
from all over and re-did the walls. These walls are not restrictive to the student’s course, but also share general knowledge.
There are few topics that are taught from books, but these BaLa walls make it easier and interactive.”

The tool has also helped in increasing the enrollment number in schools and reducing the dropout rates. School
timings have become interesting for both student and teacher. Today a total of 1075 students have access to this
programme.

In addition to this, a student run and managed library was also been set up. The library stores books according to the students needs.
The students were also trained to manage the library. They have well documented rules and regulations.

During the annual social audit at ACC Tikaria, these students successfully explained the system to the auditors. They have well
maintained registers that help them recording visitor details.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
12 students 549 access to e-learning students

1438 1029 972

06

05 Sikshana Foundation Model KUDITHINI

their experts bi-weekly and supply the
educational material. The Shikshana
representative helped carrying out
the baseline survey and chalk out the
implementation plan. Thereafter during
his regular visits, review meetings were
held with teachers, Vidya Volunteers and
SDMC member to ensure project being
on course. The baseline survey revealed
that students were lagging in languages
be it Kannada or English, science as well
as numeric skills corresponding to their
grades and age.

There are 15 government schools with This created enthusiasm amongst Matching and batching of the students
~3000 students in neighborhood of the teachers and SDMC members for was done according to their grades in
ACC Kudithini. These schools were replication of the same in schools of baseline examination, which helped
having issues of infrastructure as well Kudithini, however there were some in creating an interest in the entire
as quality of education; the school administrative approvals required for class. Poor students were provided
management committee was there in the going ahead with the implementation, more attention and extra hour long
namesake and hardly participating in the which was facilitated by the DDPI (Deputy classes were held by teachers and vidya
developmental activities of school. Director of Public Instructions) and Block volunteers, pre-post school timings.
Education officer (BEO), who wrote a
ACC CSR team wanted to do something letter in this regard to the concerned The model not only enhanced teaching
to help the situation but whenever schools. quality in the classes but also involved
consulted the School development the students in extracurricular activities
Management Committee and teachers The model looks at holistic development such as sports, cultural activities,
would ask only for infrastructure and of the children and teaching with fun for plantation, neighborhood cleanliness,
nothing else. This is when the CSR team complete involvement of the children. It communication skills through oratory and
came across Shikshana Foundation’s was decided to initiate the project as a handwriting competition, exhibitions,
successful experiment in schools at pilot in 5 schools and then replicate to organizing skits & plays. Inculcated
Hubli. To replicate the model, CSR team other schools. Five Vidya Volunteers were leadership skills by giving them various
organized an exposure visit of the SDMC identified who had the qualification and responsibilities and appointing them
members, teachers of the local schools, aptitude to implement the model. The as minister, wearing badges as prime
volunteers from local implementation Shikshana foundation agreed to provide minister, sanitation minister etc. It was
NGO partner and other opinion leaders. technical support by sending one of also ensured that SDMC is involved in
various interventions that enhanced
their interest in the school management.
In monthly monitoring meetings, SCMC
members were invited and progress
was shared, this has made the SDMC
members to start getting involved fully in
the schools developmental activities.

The effort has shown remarkable results
in the end line survey conducted last
month. It showed that model has helped
in increasing the pass percentage in
all grades, notably of the 10th board
examinations. Also, there has been an

07

improvement in the writing skills of
students in both Kannada and English
language. Students are also able to
understand the concepts of Mathematics
and Science. The Shikshana model has
made learning easier for students. One of
the recent demonstrations of increased
keenness of these rural kids in science is
designing energy efficient projects with
solar power usage. Two of the five schools
have got District Information System
for Education (DISE) score of 10/10 and
one of the school received Green School
Award.

The Local teachers and SDMC members felt bad after seeing the base line exam result and took challenge and voluntarily
come forward to increase the students grades in end line exams, accordingly they prepared plan of action and
implemented the same with support of Vidya volunteers and achieved the notable result as below mentioned

Analysis of Education Intervention Before & After 4th to 8th Class

S. No of Before Intervention After Intervention
N. Students Total
Village

Girls Boys A+ A B+ B C+ C A+ A B+ B C+ C
0
1 Ambedkar Nagar, 53 59 112 0 27 11 36 0 27 20 18 25 26 12 0
Kudithini 0
0
2 Chalavadi Keri School, 64 58 122 0 54 0 50 0 0 23 37 29 15 0 0
Kudathini

3 Government UP School, 118 98 216 0 58 0 124 0 2 31 40 73 39 1
Veniveerapura

4 Government UP School, 46 32 78 0 15 0 50 0 0 6 22 11 26 0
Siddammanahalli

Total 281 247 528 0 154 11 260 0 29 80 117 138 106 13

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
15 students 15 access to e-learning students

3826 600 1956

08

06 ACC Teachers THONDEBHAVI

Learning from the success of Shikshana were matched and batched as per their Today SMCs are present in every
Model at ACC Kudithini, which is performance in the baseline assessment. school in Thondebhavi and all the
another plant of ACC in State of Sikshana Foundation provided suitable activities are carried out with their
Karnataka, ACC Thondebhavi decided to education material for the students. support. SMCs are also in-charge of
adopt the model to address the challenge mid-day meal system, monitoring of
of reaching quality education to nine Further, two young girls from the local students, teachers and sanitation levels
higher primary schools in the vicinity. area, who have Diploma in Education in schools. Requests for replicating
(D.Ed.) i.e. they were qualified to impart this model in other neighbourhood
An exposure visit of the teachers education, were engaged by ACC CSR schools are regularly being received.
from the schools in host community through its implementation partner The Deputy Director for Primary
area and the School development FORD that had replicated the same model Institutions (DDPI), Chikaballapura,
management committee members were at Kudithini. These two qualified young Govt. of Karnataka during his recent
taken to Hubli to see the successful girls were further trained on ‘Shikshana visit to Thondebhavi schools highly
experiment of Shikshana foundation. Model’. They started visiting these four appreciated the intervention.
pilot schools on alternate day basis. Local
On returning there was general kids call these two young teachers as
agreement to start a pilot ‘ACC Teachers’. These batches of slow
implementation in four of the nine learners are given special attention
schools in the local neighbourhood. at the school by these ACC Teachers.
Required permission was granted
by the Block Education officer. Teachers Recognizing that the local communities
of these schools were also oriented on the have the immediate interest and
new model of children centered school. greatest motivation for improving of
education quality in their neighborhood
A baseline assessment was carried out in schools, ACC Thondebhavi intensively
July 2016 and it was found that students involved the SMC in the implementation
are finding it difficult to read paragraphs of the shikshana model. To achieve
even in their mother tongue. Performance this purpose capacity building of the
of students was poor in both language SMC members to execute plans for
as well as numeracy skills. Students of the development of the school and the
4th to 7th grade in the four pilot schools students was also done.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
9 students 8 access to e-learning students

1161 0 571

09

07 Centre of excellence Wadi
– ACC DAV

DAV Public School ACC Wadi is located The school buildings and classroom
in Gulbarga district of Karnataka, are well designed, having adequate
that is one of the most backward space, ventilation, lighting, sanitation,
districts of the State. Despite the temperature and noise levels,
shortcomings prevalent in the region, the including other auxiliary facilities with
school could establish itself has one of learning rich displays and comfortable
the best equipped centres of excellence. ambience that positively affects
The school was established in 1986 and learning atmosphere for the students.
since then has actively contributed to The classrooms are well equipped
the development of education in the with e-learning tools that help teachers
region. It welcomes students from all to make use of modern techniques
sections of the society. of teaching. Students can also easily
use the tools for self-learning when
The school believes in holistic teacher is not there. The school also
development of children and thus has a fully stocked library for students
beyond academics it encourages them to read and expand their horizons. In
to participate in sports and extra addition to this, the school has fully
circular activities on an equal footing. equipped labs for Physics, Chemistry,
The school has classes for students of Biology and Computers. Students
all standards i.e. from kindergarten to from ACC DAV Wadi have always
standard XIIth, where more than 1200 set new records by securing high
students of the area are receiving quality percentages and topping various
education. subjects in Boards Exams.

10

Some of the notable achievements of the students in academics in recent past are as below.

Ammara at Seoul: Budding Orator: District Level Topper

Ms Ammara Farzeen of ACC DAV Wadi, Ms. Shamita Jain of Class Xth, brought Ms Vennala a student from Class XIIth
was one of the four students selected laurels for the school and the district of ACC DAV Wadi, scored 95% marks
from India to participate in the by securing the second position and stood first among all the CBSC
International Science & Engineering at the State Level Seminar held at schools in the District.
Camp in Seoul, South Korea. She Bangalore, on the topic, ‘Innovations
was also awarded with a special in Agriculture for Sustainable Future-
prize for her keen understanding of Prospects and Challenges’.
science and technology.

2nd Position at Science Seminar at Karnataka State Level

For the 3rd consecutive year, ACC DAV, Wadi competed and won its way to participate at the ‘State level Science Seminar’.
Ms. Sanjana of Class X of DAV Public School, ACC Wadi bagged the Second prize at the State level Science Seminar.
After securing first place at Chittapur taluka level and Kalaburagi district level competitions, Ms. Sanjana represented
District Kalaburagi at the Karnataka state level where she stood second among the 34 competitors representing all the
34 Educational District in the state. The Science Seminar was jointly organised by the Department of Education
Research and Training (DSERT), Visvesaraya Industrial & Technological Museum (VITM),Bangaluru and Head at the District
Institute of Education & Training(DIET). Tumkur.

Moreover, the school equally focuses win and learn from defeats that helps Summing it all, DAV Public School ACC
develop sportsmanship spirit. Students Wadi has won ‘Pride of DAV’for the
on sports and extracurricular activities. from this school regularly participate in third consecutive year. ‘Pride of DAV’
inter-school competitions and secure is recognition for a DAV school among
Since physical fitness is equally positions at Zonal, Regional and all DAVs in the country, where Board
National level competitions. One of the Examination Result average for the
important for students, the school remarkable achievements in recent Standard XIIth students in subjects of
past is the school volleyball team Science and Math is more than 75%.
hase provided them with a big competing and winning its way up This is by all means a very remarkable
to the national level games. feat for any school.
playground, dedicated sports

teachers and well equipped

sports room. This helps students to

build their fitness, learn to play in a

team, plan & execute strategies to

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
56 students 64 access to e-learning students

8645 1210 3923

11

08 Baal Sakhi Chanda

Baal Sakhi, a child’s friend, is a very given training and workshops for helping Since the time, these volunteers have
innovative quality education model. the students with extra coaching. intervened; children have started
Prior to the intervention, a base line They are also provided with materials participating in cultural programs, have
examination was conducted which that would be required while teaching started showing interests in academics
revealed that 4th standard students were students. These volunteers do not stick and have also started to enjoy school.
unable to write, read and comprehend to the traditional style of teaching; Moreover, the SMC and gram sabha
as per their grade and age. Their basic rather use songs, stories, study members have decided to engage Baal
concepts of mathematics and languages tours and games to strengthen the Sakhi in schools to replace on-leave
were extremely poor.The results were students’ interest in class. Regular government school teachers, so that
poor because majority of the teachers tests are conducted to monitor the education for children doesn’t stop.
belonged to places far away from school, students’ progress. In six months, the
busy with official government work, few students could read easy sentences Since the start of the programme,
of them were on leave and the remaining, and frame and write basic sentences. Vidhya Utkaarsh has reached out to
couldn’t manage large number of Students have also inculcated the 7254 students, out of which 3727 have
students in classes. habit of reading. Baal Sakhi’s have also been girls. Moreover, 41 boys and 63
taught students to save their money in girls have secured scholarships for their
Baal Sakhi is a village level volunteer, banks, by opening their saving accounts. further studies. 11 girls and 12 boys have
selected by gram sabha members Currently, there are 12 volunteers also been selected in Jawahar Navodaya
and School Management Committee in the area, serving 7254 students in 12 Vidyalaya, which is a residence alternative
members. These volunteers are then villages. school run by Government of India.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
12 students 12 access to e-learning students

7254 9 3727

12

09 Supplementary teachers Bargarh

ACC Cement Nagar English medium The school has demonstrated remarkable
School in Bargarh is run by ACC in progress, for instance, twenty eight
association with Vikash Group of students appeared for the recent
Institutions. Vikash is an educational 10 standard board examinations and
group, renowned in the region for the average percentage was more
managing multiple schools and colleges. than 80% marks. Furthermore,
The school has been active for the past eleven of them secured more than 90%
eight years and today has strength of marks.
610 students, from- Lower Kindergarten
to 10h standard. Ninety percent of the Since there is an acute shortage of
students are from the neighboring village qualified teachers in other government
communities. Moreover, the school fee is schools, ACC has trained various
kept nominal, making an English medium graduate students and has facilitated
school accessible to all. them to contribute as supplementary
teachers in the neighbourhood
To fulfill the increase in demand, a new government schools of Bargarh. These
block and eight classrooms have been supplementary teachers are trained to
added to the school’s infrastructure. teach in the play-way method, thereby
ACC Bargarh regularly contributes to creating a positive environment for
the school management fund to ensure children to learn. Nearly 500 students
better environment for learning and have benefitted from this initiative.
growth.

Helping students with supplementary teachers:

Chinmaya Nanda, a student of Canalpada Primary School of village Khaliapali, studies in class three and is eight years old. He
remembers not liking the school in his initial days. He found it boring and extremely difficult to learn. But since his ‘project
sir’ has joined, he finds his classes very interesting and energizing. He enjoys extracurricular classes that are conducted, like,
drawing, paper craft, poem writing, singing and so on. He now can easily add, subtract, multiply and divide. He also enjoys
reading and writing sentences, letter and stories.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
21 students 25 access to e-learning students

2150 507 1124

13

10 educating Chaibasa
the Underprevileged

Chaibasa has a majority of tribal Despite the Right to Education Act, the Moreover, 205 marginalized tribal kids
population. Many of them were quality of education in government are enrolled in ACC DAV CBSE School,
completely unaware of the concept schools is very poor. The student-teacher which is more than what is prescribed in
of education. Moreover, belonging to ratio is very poor, there is no sanitation the RTE norm.
the tribal sect, they are deprived and and 80% of the students in class 8th,
underprivileged. In 2008, ACC Chaibasa couldn’t solve basic mathematical Our shining star, Badal Honagha, is
decided to revolutionize education for problems. ACC is supporting four a student, who comes from a tribal
tribal in Jhinkpani area of Jharkhand. schools in the vicinity by providing household. This year, he topped his 10th
them with specialised teachers for standard board examination. He proved
ACC DAV school of Chaibasa has 25 seats Mathematics, Science and English. Career that if given a fair and equal chance, the
reservation in the primary section for awareness sessions were also conducted marginalized sector can also do wonders.
tribal students. These students receive in these schools to let students know
free CBSE education till standard 12th. about the limitless possibilities that lie
These students are challenging the ahead.
societal norms and are moving towards
a paradigm shift in the world education.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
4 students 2 access to e-learning students

14 1409 625 603

11 utkarsh Coaching Jamul

Jamul Cement Works is located in an completing their school, the students examinations. In this perspective, to
area that has developed over period of from the neighbourhood communities help students of the neighbourhood
time into a semi urban area. Today the mainly enroll themselves in nearby communities to achieve their potential
town has a population of 25000 with technical colleges and worked at small by better learning during their secondary
a 77% literacy rate. The area has good levels. It was realized that with some and higher secondary education and
number of public as well as private coaching input the same students could prepare well for various entrance
schools for both primary and secondary be groomed well, get much better jobs examinations, the CSR team initiated
education, where students from and do well in life. a coaching center the area named
the area are enrolled and regularly Utkarsh Coaching Center. This Center
receiving education. Though the literacy An interactive session with the not onlyhelps students to prepare
percentage is above national average, youth in the area was held on occasion for the crucial examinations, but also
the quality of education to school of Children’s day in year 2012, guide and direct them for their regular
children particularly in higher grades where it was found that many of the learning in secondary and higher
emerged to be a concern area for children were unaware about carreer secondary clases in school.
the parents. When the Jamul CSR opportunities and preparations required
team carried out a community needs for medical, engineering, management ACC CSR team engaged Jan Sevak Samiti,
assessment survey, they found that after and government service entrance an organization dedicatedly working

15

in this domain, as a implementation Chhattisgarh, PMT-Chhattisgarh etc. with the young girl students and share
partner to reach out coaching and Twenty five of them have qualified for with them how they have worked
quality education support particularly engineering courses and forty of them against difficulties and have
for the students from the marginalized have earned Chattisgarh Government’s become engineers and professionals
sections of the society. To ensure that Post Matric Scholarship. Academic serving ACC.
sincere candidates only participate in record shows the students coached at
the initiative, the Center took students this center have done well in their
for coaching by conducting an initial school studies and 11 of them have
screening test. topped their school annual examination.
In recent years the coaching center
This Utkarsh Coaching center has is also orienting students on
trained 540 students so far, of which communication skills and personaility
60% of the candidates have been girls development. Moreover ACC’s own
students. Of the total students trained employees particularly the female
at this centre, 80 percent students employees have taken up responsibility
have scored very well in competitive of mentoring these students. Female
exams such as NTSE, JEE Mains, PET- employees take motivation sessions

Success story

Yarun Sahu’s is one of such student who got trained in Utkarsh Coaching Centre. He belongs to a economically weak family,
his father is a labourer and his mother is a housewife, he is the eldest of many siblings. The family has no other source of
income and completely on Sahu’s father for finances. Yarun was a regular student at Utkarsh coaching centre, he studied hard
with the inputs he received at the center and qualified for NIT, Raipur this year. He could also secure the Chattisgarh State
Government’s scholarship that will help him now to complete his course without worrying for finances.

Jamul Utkarsh Centre is part of a larger initiative of ACC named ACC VidyaUtkarsh. Under this larger intiative, ACC Jamul is
reaching out to larger number of student population in the area.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
12 students 11 access to e-learning students

16 11000 1 5000

12 Building infrastructure Sindri
for education

Schools are called temples of For enhancing quality of education in DISE report scores a school on its
learning; however schools in large the plant operation’s neighbourhood, infrastructural facilities. Majority of
parts of rural India are in miserable state. ACC Sindri CSR team conducted multiple the intervened schools now have an
Though having a excellent infrastructure meetings with teachers, SMC members, average score of 7 out of 10.
is not a prelude to improving learning parents, and together worked out a Interestingly with these infrastructural
outcomes, however it is certainly a plan for bettering the infrastructure gap fulfillments, students are more
fundamental requirement for good conditions of the schools. The local motivated to study and evolve. Children
quality education. village school’s boundary walls were have started discussing with their
constructed and the school were given parents about building a toilet inside
Prior to ACC Sindri’s interventions, a parameter. This bought in a sense of their homes and doing away with
the schools in neighborhood villages security and ownership among students. open defecation in the villages.
such as Chhatatand gram panchayat, Clean water drinking facility, renovation
failed to meet any RTE mandated of existing toilets, electrification of school
infrastructure requirements. The schools and arrangement of benches and desks
lacked clean drinking water facility, too has been made. The school premises
different toilets for girls and boys, are clean now and this has instilled an
electricity and compound walls. idea of cleanliness among children.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
students 11 access to e-learning students

0

17

13 Joy of Reading Madukkarai

Madukkarai has an average literacy ACC Madukkarai supports the nearby
rate of 72% with male literacy rate schools in development of quality
of 79% and female literacy rate is 64%. education, assessment of students
There are 10 government schools through ASER test, upgradation of
located in the host community of ACC infrastructure, training students for
Madukkarai where 2848 students cultural activities and performing
from the neighbourhood are receiving arts, career guidance program, NSS
education. The school teachers and programs, personality development
Headmasters of these schools are programs and sports activates.
member of the ACC Community ACC Madukkarai has also played a
Advisory Panel and they take active significant role in strengthening
part in not only the educational of Parent Teacher association and
development aspects but also the generic working with this association for
development aspects for the identification of education needs in the
neighborhood community. area.

18

Some of the notable initiatives in recent months are highlighted as below

Library for joy of reading!

Many discussions with the Parents Teacher Association and Community Advisory Panel members indicated need for
a well stocked library for students in the community.

ACC Madukkarai facilitated establishment of a library that was for the students and by the students. Books not only
let open windows of imagination, but also increase curiosity in children. The schools in the neighbourhood have adopted library
as their regular period now, where students are allotted one hour exclusively to read.

These classes get more interactive and interesting, when every student shares his story with his fellow mates. This helps
students get over their stage fear and helps improve their communication skills. Moreover, once the student is interested
to read, he also starts reading the newspaper and magazine, thereby broadening his horizon about general knowledge and
debating about the same.

The volunteers for these libraries maintain a ledger, which record all details while lending a book. Reading stimulates
the students’ imagination and helps them understand the world. It also kindles the art to write. Reading a variety
of books exposes children to a wide range of language features and vocabulary. Today these libraries have become quite
a hit with the student community in the ACC Madukkarai neighborhood.

Scholastic Excellence Awards: Technology Lab:

Every year 20 Government schools are selected and In today’s digital era when it emerged that there is
students who stood first, second and third are honored considerable gap in accessibility of computers to the
the ACC Scholastic Excellence Awards. The awards has local youth. ACC and the Parents Teacher Association
been instituted to inspire the Government school jointly created a fully fledged computer lab for students
students who had been school toppers in their Xth and XIIth that hosts 20 computers connected with internet
std Board exams. More than 120 students are facilities. It has become a technology training hub for
awarded under this award. students in the neighborhood.

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
10 students 6 access to e-learning students

2850 1100 1600

19

14 Quest for every child Damodhar
making a grade

To commence with an intervention assessment at the eight neighboring taken as a control set and two tests
for enhancing quality of elementary schools of Damodhar. The assessment were conducted on Basic Language and
education in the neighbourhood schools, tried to understand the learning outcome Numeracy Skills test, using ASER tool and
ACC Damodhar undertook a baseline levels at these schools. Standard IV was Writing and Comprehension Skills.

Following is the picture that emerged out of this assessment.

Level of Reading and writing in Level of reading in English for Class IV Level of Basic Number skills for Class
Bengali for class IV students students IV students

At the aggregate level of the total At the aggregate level only 23% of At an aggregate level 54% of
of 187 students assessed 66% were the students sampled could achieve the students sampled displayed
able to complete the Bangla reading the desired reading level standards. proficiency with basic number skills.
test successfully. Whereas 5% could This compares very poorly with 60% (completed the test successfully),
read upto a paragraph, 8% could levels achieved for Bangla reading. 32% could do up to subtraction but
read upto words only and 17% could 23% could complete the test i.e. read not division, 6% could recognize upto
read only alphabets. 5% students a story fluently, 14% could read upto numbers 10-99 but could not do
were beginners, i.e they cannot paragraph, 18% could read words subtraction, 6% could recognize upto
even identify alphabets. While 66% only, 35% could read only alphabets, numbers 0-9 and nothing more and
could complete Bengali reading test, 10% students were beginners, i.e. they 3% students could not recognize even
only 30% could manage to clear the can not even identify alphabets. For single digit numbers.
written test. English writing skills it was found that
majority of the students are stuck For level of arithmetic ability, at
at Grade I writing levels in English, an aggregate level only 23% of the
Only 13% could answer Class IV level students could complete the grade
questions, whereas 3% students were specific test successfully. This reflects
beginners, i.e. they could not attempt that students lack in higher order skills
a single question successfully of understanding core mathematical
concepts and processes and their use
in everyday life.

20

No of schools Number of No of libraries No of students with No of girl
15 students 8 access to e-learning students

5735 425 2025

General Awareness Assessed for Class IV student

The general awareness of students is area of serious concern. The question in which the students scored the lowest asked the
student to write down the ‘state she lives in’. Only 32% of the students could answer this question correctly. The next question
which stumped the students was ‘when Independence Day is celebrated’, to which only 34% could respond correctly. Surprisingly
the question on ‘name of the country you live in’ could only got 60% of students answering correctly. The question which got
the most correct answers was on ‘identification of body parts’ from the figure given in the question paper to which 87% had the
correct answer.

Thus it got evident from the assessment that substantial work needs to be done to improve the learning levels of the students in
the area. ACC Damodhar thus developed a new educational program for the students of the area that targets to enhance learning
levels of the students by engaging quality teaching tools and methods.

This would involve bringing in para teachers to the classroom. Improved teaching techniques to be introduced, like the bridge
education programme, activity based learning, induct technology aided learning, computer classes and wall library. Moreover,
community leaders and other stakeholders will also be encouraged to participate in providing a higher quality of education for
their children.

The outcome of the proposed programme is to improve the language early reading skills of students. The target indicators set
are 40% of the students of the two targeted primary schools, should receive quality education by the first year, 60% students
should receive by the second year and 80% by the third year. Moreover, the programme also aims to regularize the attendance
of students and also, regularly assess them and their reading skills. The monitoring and evaluation process will be determined
via quarterly and annual reports. Focus group discussions, questionnaires, base line reports and monthly reports too, will help in
evaluating the programme.

21

15 ACC KI LAADLI
Market Place - North

Gender discrimination is prevalent education program to ensure that
across the globe and so it’s true for they get meaningful and stimulating
India as well. Gender discrimination education up to grade V and then are
violates not only human rights but guided enter into mainstream education.
also fundamental rights. Although Search for villages with high school
the constitution of India has granted dropouts began. Twenty five
men and women equal rights, gender villages in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya
disparity still remains. Gender Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and
discrimination in North India has been Himachal Pradesh were identified
particularly alarming as it shows the to reach out to such dropout girls.
gender bias here has lead to female Through community mobilisation one
feticide, general abuse and other classroom with multigrade teaching
highly discriminatory practices. Such methodologies was created and journey
discrimination is more evident in began with a five year commitment.
families where mothers are illiterate All girls were taught to a level of grade
or marginally literate. Education gives V and then helped to take up school
a woman freedom of thought, It by successfully getting admitted to
broadens her outlook and makes her class VI in nearby School. These girls
aware of her duties, responsibilities could, not only regain their place
and rights. mainstream quality education but
also passed through gender studies.
With a deep realization that education This helped to realise the potential of
is the only way to empower the girls each girl child and all of them were made
and women in the society to help part of adolescent club formed in their
themselves and their family, ACC villages.
decided to undertake a region wide
intervention. To take on this challenge Looking at it success, ACC cement
company partnered with IIMPACT, which supply chain partners came forward to
is an NGO dedicatedly working towards support the cause. With joint support
providing educational opportunity to of ACC dealers, retailers and CFAs today
girls from socially and economically ACC Ki Laadli is reaching out to
disadvantaged communities of India. The about 1600 girls in 50 interior villages
aim was to break the cycle of illiteracy of five states of North India. This is
that girls from such disadvantaged ACC’s first CSR project with its supply
sections are mired in. This project was chain and during each Annual Dealers
named “ACC KI LAADLI”. Conference; ACC Ki Laadli project is
getting expanded. Even during last
It was envisaged that to attain this AGM some share holders not only
purpose, girl children who have appreciated this project but also
dropped out of school would be requested to expand it to other states
identified in villages and brought under as well.

22

16 ACC VIDYASAARATHI

large data from student applications and 50% going to girls. All the education
tracking status of applications. Another institutes in the district were registered
big advantage of the NSDL web solution on the Vidyasaarathi portal which
is custom defining of algorithm, and helped disbursal of the scholarship
assignment of weightage for various directly into the education institutes’
variables to be assessed for award of the bank account where the student has
scholarship. taken admission.

In continuation with the long tradition The education funding system in India National Roll Out
of shouldering social responsibility, ACC is in a very dismal state when compared
Boards CSR Committee had desired ACC to the developed countries of the world, The success of the pilot, lead to the
to launch a national level scholarship where on an average more than 75% launch of ACC Vidya Saarthi Scholarship
for deserving candidates from rural of the students pursuing studies could nationally on 12th of January 2017 on
hinterland where company has its avail funding from government or other ‘Yuva Divas’. All manufacturing plants of
operations. sources, in India only 3% students could do ACC organized their respective launch
so. Considering this Government of India in presence of district officials, local
The logistics of launching a scholarship has already brought all its scholarship community leaders, heads of education
across multi locations, maintaining around the country on one platform i.e. institutions in the districts and ACC
transparency, adhering to tight time National scholarship Portal, It has further Plant management. Students from
lines, process a huge amount of data to brought all the Banks together on another surrounding villages also participated in
make the scholarship award decisions portal from where all students who good numbers. Window for application
and providing ease of application to wants to access funds and information has been kept open for 6 months
thousands of students was intimidating. related to educational loans could avail and final award of the scholarship
The use of a web based technology it. NSDL had provided the technical will be announced on 8th September
to manage end to end scholarship support for all these initiatives. Hereafter, 2017 which coincides with the
application and award process has helped Government of India started considering ‘International Literacy Day’. For this
in the launch and successful running of building of one platform from where year’s scholarship round, a total of 1175
the scholarship scheme. students could avail scholarships being students are to be awarded with the
offered by all corporate. Partnership scholarship across all 14 districts spread
NSDL e-Gov that manages some of India’s with NSDL was indeed providential as in 12 states where ACC manufacturing
most robust and complex web solutions ACC was also looking for technical operations are located.
such as National Pension System, support to build its portal to launch
National Judiciary Reference System, national level scholarship. The ACC Vidysaarathi is well poised
Tax information Network, Registrar to link some of the brightest but
& Authentication Service Agency for Since the initiative was to be launched under-financed youth from some
Aadhaar across all operation district of ACCC. of the most backward districts in
It was decided to do a pilot first and the country. The online solution is
The ACC team was in search for a then after imbibing the learnings roll also a template which other corporates
technology backbone to power a it out across locations. A pilot launch might consider emulating and help
web based scholarship application was thus on on 26th February 2016 make higher education accessible
and management solution for Vidya at Chandrapur in an event under the to those who have the potential but
Saarthi initiative. In NSDL e-Gov, ACC chairmanship of District Collector and not the means.
found such a partner. NSDL e-Gov in the presence of other local opinion
currently manages some of India’s most leaders and principals of colleges in the
robust and complex web solutions district. The scholarship application
including National Pension System, window was kept open for 45 days
Registrar & Authentication Service and in this duration more than 500
Agency for Aadhaar and many others. applications were received. The power
of digital computing helped in quick
The online platform gives advantage analysis of the received applications
of electronic computing in analysing of and total hundred scholarships
were awarded. of which more than

23

India’s first online
Scholarship project. ACC
piloted at Chandrapur
District of Maharashtra on
February 26, 2016.
Now ACC is replicating it
across 15 Districts of 11
States of India.
Reachaing to 1173
underprevileged Higher
Seconday Students.

24

About us

ACC Limited is India’s foremost cement manufacturer with a countrywide network of factories and marketing
offices. Established in 1936, it has been a pioneer and trend-setter in cement and concrete technology. Among
the first companies in India to include commitment to environment protection as a corporate objective, ACC
continues to be recognized for environment friendly measures taken at its plants and mines. Its commitment to
sustainable development, its fairness in business dealings and the considerable on-going efforts in community
welfare have won the company acclaim as a responsible corporate citizen.

www.acclimited.com

Acknowledgements
This CSR update is produced by ACC’s Corporate Communications Department with inputs from the CSR
Department and plant based CSR coordinators. The editorial team thanks all those who contributed with
content and images

ACC Limited

Registered Office
Cement House, 121,
Maharshi Karve Road,
Mumbai 400 020, India.

www.acclimited.com