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The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry in the current regime is very busy and buzzing with activity. Every few days we hear of a new initiative, regulation, new school, new education policy and what not. Continuing its energetic efforts the Ministry has rolled out a new scheme called Vidyanjali that will allow people to register themselves for doing active volunteer work in government schools across the country.

However, the scheme is currently available in 21 States that are already on board this initiative. “We will be looking at some basic qualifications or credibility in the field the volunteer wants to engage with school children in,” said a source aware of the development.

Vidyanjali was formally launched yesterday by HRD Minister Smriti Irani. It should be clear for volunteers right from the beginning that they will in no way supplement the role of teachers by aiding them in the classroom as the Right to Education Act (RTE) Act does not permit this sort of teaching. The volunteers will be allowed to help with non-scholastic activities such as reading and theatre.

“This will also afford an opportunity to NRIs and all those who wish to contribute to the education sector to do something to help the cause of government school education while visiting India,” an official remarked.

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Government schools, where large numbers of poor and disadvantaged children study, often lag behind in terms of quality. Through this initiative the government is hoping that reading and other sessions conducted by volunteers would make a small difference. This also addresses problems pointed out by studies like NGO Pratham’s Annual Status of Education Report, 2015, which states that less than 50% of students in Class V were able to fluently read a text meant for Class II students.