ICT in Education

We, at Helpers of The Handicapped, Kolhapur (HoH) realize that education is the greatest leveller in our endeavour of empowerment of physically challenged, socially disadvantaged, economically poor and rural students. We have, therefore, established Samarth Vidya Mandir, the inclusive co-ed Marathi medium school at Unchgaon, Dist. Kolhapur in the year 2000.

Target Beneficiary Group:

The target group consists of 421 students from KG to class X of physically challenged, socially disadvantaged, economically poor and rural boys and girl students, out of which (97) students are identified as having physical or learning disability and need special support.

Nature of Intervention:

We believe that the solution to grim picture of the quality of education lies in qualitative result based management of schools, improving teacher skills through training programmes and effective implementation of multipurpose education consisting of constructivist academic education, use of information and communication technology in education, introduction to basic technology, identifying and encouraging diverse multiple intelligence of students. We are working with this belief more consciously since last fifteen years at our school.

The remedial education is designed to cater to the needs of children unable to keep pace with the teaching-learning process in a normal classroom. Remedial teaching acts as a safety valve for the students who are behind the expected level of achievement. It involves diagnosis of specific difficulties, provide suitable remedial measures and provide support to prevent reoccurring of them again in future. Whereas special education is designed specifically for students with special needs, remedial education can be designed for any students, with or without special needs; the defining trait is simply that they have reached a point of under-preparedness, regardless of why.  ICT serves as an effective tool in this.

We have Gharonda hostel cum rehabilitation center for students with disabilities in Kolhapur wherein 110 male and female students and vocational trainees staying free of charge or by paying nominal charges. (31) disabled students are attending school and (44) disabled students are attending Arts and Commerce streams in college. Most of these students are from economically disadvantaged rural families. For the convenience of college going students, we have provided a specially modified bus. We also provide vocational training in cooking, computer operation, tailoring, and needle work.

Due to lack of suitable disabled friendly facilities in villages, and due to poverty, many disabled students are not able to get good education. We have experienced that if such students are provided hostel accommodation free, or with nominal fees, they can complete their education and become self reliant. We need substantial help from the society to overcome our day to day financial problems. We do not get any government grant for running of hostel. Hence, we are dependent on generous support from our well-wishers.

For gaining competitive edge, students with disabilities need information and communication skills which they would be able to acquire and practise better, in the computer lab at our Gharonda Hostel where they reside, after their school/college hours and on holidays.

Total no. of direct beneficiaries in school would be as follows:- 271