Impact Stories

Tuition fees aid in Class 10 came as a benediction

The Class -10 board exam results are crucial in Gujarat as they normally lay the foundation to opt for a field one wants to make a career out of. Hence, it is vital for students to work hard for this exam. During pandemic, schools had no option but to provide education online. Students belonging to poor families had a tough time to get smart phones or tablets while online education affected their grasping and understanding power specifically in the subjects that needed conceptual clarity.

Hemlata Awari, a Class- 11 student reveals that online school education was not enough to score well in Class-10. She recalls, "My father had to get a smartphone for me on instalment. It was not easy for him to arrange the money." She then adds, " We belong to a very lower middle class family. My father has a job work in tailoring and hisincome is about Rs 9,000 per month. My mother started working from 2018 as the daily expenses were rising and there was a need in rise in income. My mother takes care of old people. Her mother earns Rs 10,000per month. She takes public transport or shuttle to reach for the work as they are placed in far- fetched areas.”

Residing in Saraspur, her grandfather belonged to the Telangana state. He settled here with his family and her father- Janardan Awari was born and brought up in Ahmedabad. Her father faced stomach infection in 2021 and couldn't have food. He was only on water. Glucose bottles were given to him and was under proper care. He has now recovered. She states, "During Covid-19, we had to seek the help of relatives to run the house. We were cash starved." hey have a 85-year-old grandmother who was hit by pneumonia and became bed ridden in 2021 November. But like it is said, good people are always looked after by God. Her mother who takes care of an old lady got her in touch with a Mazdoor.Co team member. She sought the help of their team to pay the tuition fees for her daughter.

The Mazdoor team member promised for help and paid Rs 7,500 (half fees) for the remaining year. Hemlata says, "It was the need of the hour. I had to score well as Class 10 is a defining year for the future. I had a tuition for all subjects. Initially, I had to ask for PDF of the guides from my school teachers as we were not in a position to buy them. Everything online makes it difficult to grasp the subjects like Maths and Science. The tuitions make it easy as it gives an opportunity for relearning.”

Hemlata scored 82% in Class 9. She feels her school teachers were very supportive. She had a dream to pursue a Masters in Commerce degree and later make future as an accountant. However, she has dropped the dream considering family's economic situation. She now wants to go for Diploma in Computer Engineering since it would pay more. She wants to stand on her own feet and help her family financially.

She is currently learning the Tally software for accounts management. She loves to explore technology and its new features. Janardan Awari says, "Education is the necessity. My father insisted that I study but I ignored his advice. I was always keen to do labour work. I now tell my daughter not to commit that mistake. She should prioritise education and make her life better."

The help in tuitions have been a blessing to us, says Janardan. We are awaiting for her results which will soon be out. She studied really hard. She is a bright student. My only wish is that lack of money should not be the deciding factor for her career or education.