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Smile Foundation ties up
with Caterpillar Foundation
Every child between the age of 6 and 14 now has the right to free and compulsory education. Government’s consistent efforts to universalise education in the country, is praiseworthy. However, Smile Foundation believes that civil society organisations have to gear up to provide quality education at the primary level. Development organisations should complement the task of the government in strengthening the primary level education system in the country.
The Foundation in association with Caterpillar Foundation, is trying to enhance quality education to underprivileged children studying in government schools of Tamil Nadu. It may be mentioned that Smile Foundation conducted a Need Assessment Survey on the government schools in three different districts of Tamil Nadu namely Thiruvallur, Hosur and Kishnagiri. The report stated that though the children here have easy access to primary education, most of them are poor in subjects like English, Maths and Science. Similarly, the school buildings are in a dilapidated state and there are not enough classrooms and teachers. The schools do not have basic facilities like drinking water, lavatories and electricity. Though there are many bright children, due to lack of proper training, teaching methods and infrastructure, the students lose interest in studies and often drop out from school.
Smile Foundation is also imparting Remedial Education and computer training to the children through the Mission Education Programme. It also includes the salaries of teachers and instructors. Smile Foundation volunteers are imparting basic remedial education to 678 underprivileged children of 13 government schools. Smile Foundation and Caterpillar Foundation have plans to extend their aid to all the schools in Thiruvallur, Hosur & Kishnagiri districts soon. Schools under the programme: Phase I-
Phase II- 1. Govt. Girls High School, Kadambathur 2. Govt. Girl’s Higher Secondary School, Kadam Bathur 3. TELC Middle School, Periyakuppam- 4. Municipal High School, Rajaji Salai 5. TELC Kabis Higher Secondary School, Pandur 6. PU Middle School, Kadamhathur |
Smile
Foundation has joined hands with Caterpillar Foundation, the social
arm of US based global corporate giant Caterpillar to strengthen
primary education system in Tamil Nadu. Besides providing remedial
education to children, the infrastructural needs in the government
schools of Thiruvallaur, Hosur and Krishnagiri districts of the
state are also being taken care of through the collaboration. 
Since
its inception, Smile Foundation has been working for the holistic
development of children by imparting quality education to less privileged
children and taking care of their healthcare needs through its Mission
Education Programme. The Foundation is now tying up with Corporate
giants to facilitate quality education and infrastructural needs
of the government schools.
Through
the survey, Smile Foundation identified 13 schools where the Foundation
in collaboration with Caterpillar Foundation is aiding the infrastructural
needs of the school which includes building more classrooms, lavatories,
well-equipped laboratories, providing drinking water facilities,
electricity, computers, uniforms and lab equipment in the schools.