News
Muslim girls get a second chance at education, courtesy this New Delhi NGO
NGO Pehchan identifies school drop-out Muslim girls through door-to-door campaigns. It coaches them and helps them write exams as private candidates and thus a second opportunity at making a career through education.
While there are a score of organisations working for the cause of education for the underprivileged. However, there is an NGO based out of New Delhi which is doing something different and equally praiseworthy. It gives a second chance at education to Muslim girls. So far over 25 Muslim girls who had dropped out of school have received a chance at higher education. Most of these girls discontinued school at the secondary level because of poverty or lack of family support. Pehchan, operating since 2011 in Jaitpur Extension near Okhla, identified them through door-to-door campaign, coached them privately and had them write Class X and XII exams of Jamia Millia Islamia Board, managed by the university, as private candidates.
Since 2011, the tally of girls who have cleared exams has risen to 32 girls. This year, 5 students have passed Class XII and are hoping to join a bachelor's programmes at JMI. Apart from providing tutoring at the free Pehchan Coaching Centre, the organisation also provides financial support and vocational training.
One of the girls is Mubeena Khatoon, 19, who has recently completed her schooling. Her father died 10 years ago, leaving her disabled mother to provide for 5 children. Mubeena and her elder sister took up embroidery, earning a meagre Rs 2,000-2,500 per month. Khatoon came to Pehchan to learn tailoring, and was encouraged to study. A class VIII dropout, Khatoon, passed Class X with first division and got a job at a call centre. She continued her association with Pehchan and kept attending coaching classes at night; she passed Class XII this year.
Khatoon doesn't have higher education plans yet but Asma, 18, does. Daughter of a daily-wager, she completed Class XII this year and hopes to study in JMI. "I want to get a BA degree, then a B.Ed (education) and teach in Pehchan," she said.
"We started Pehchan here because of the high girls' dropout rate. The nearest government school is 7 kilometres away and people can't afford private schools," said activist Shabnam Hashmi. "With every child we teach, we also push their marriage back," she added. Hashmi runs the NGO, ANHAD, the major patron for Pehchan.