Community Based Schools (CBS)

Funding of the CBS

In 1996, under SAP I, SRSP established 30 community-based schools in Kohat and Mansehra Region. In these schools, primary level education is imparted to both boys and girls. The schools are established in the areas where there are no functional government schools within the vicinity of 1 ½ Km. The objective was to demonstrate a model based on the concept of Community Based School (CBS) for further replication through out the province. Also to improve upon the functioning of primary schools in the province by addressing the prevalent shortcomings and inadequacies faced by the state run school system.

Objectives of CBS

To demonstrate replicable models for further adoption by provincial government.
To ensure the community participation/ownership.
To enable and motivate the children toward learning.

After a period of 2 years further funding materialized in the shape of Learning for Life, a UK based NGO. The reason for additional funding was that the impact of education could not be gauged in such a limited time period. The other objective was to make the schools financially viable. About 15 schools were provided funds on a recurrent cost basis by SRSP while the rest were provided a seed fund called the “One Time Grant”(OTG)[1]. Accordingly each of the schools were provided a fund of Rs. 160,000 to which they had to raise a matching grant of Rs. 40, 000 over a period of 2 years. This total amount was deposited in the National Savings Center from where a regular monthly income is provided to selected schools.

SRSP is investing this fund in collaboration with the communities. Interest earned on the fund is contributing to the running of the Schools i.e. mainly to teachers’ salaries. By the end of the project period the schools funds will be transferred to the additional funds raised by the community to add to the OTG. The OTG would be managed by the communities and generate enough income to support and sustain their schools.

Through their contributions, the rural communities have shown a growing commitment towards education. They have also demonstrated good financial management skills through independent management of the OTGs.

Managing the CBS

SRSP works through community organizations and establishes committees for each school. In order to have the equal participation of men and women in the promotion of education, a six member Village Education Committee (VEC) comprising 3 women and 3 men manages each school. VEC roles and responsibilities includes selecting site for the schools, advising on administrative matters, determining fee structure and operating school funds, determining teachers salaries, checking maintenance of buildings, equipment and school supplies assist the teachers and monitor functioning of the schools.

Under this project communities are assisted in managing the schooling of their children themselves with the support and guidance from the SRSP. This process ensures ownership of the school by the community and puts control in the hands of those who have the greatest stake in it.

Monitoring and Evaluation

CBSs are monitored at two levels i.e. at organizational level and at community level. At organizational level the School Monitors (SMs) are responsible to collect data on the schools and to provide guidance to all the teachers in the schools. Monthly visits are also carried out by SMs, where the monitors sit in the classes assess the quality level of the students by carrying out tests and questions. The monitors have designed standard questionnaires that they fill during their visits to the schools. The purpose is to assess how well the teachers are imparting the knowledge they gained during the teacher training provided to them.

The Monitors have created a streamlined database that has allowed proper evaluation of the school system. Besides this the Monitors practically demonstrate lessons, the proper use of a kit and teaching techniques. They also monitor the physical environment and classroom management of the teachers.

The School Monitors and other field staff of the SRSP play a vital role in monitoring/implementing the endowment fund scheme. Communities are motivated to make their contributions in the principle amount of fund for the financial viability of the schools.

With consent of the communities a formal agreement is signed between SRSP and the communities (Terms of Partnership). When the grant is disbursed to the communities, the field staff is responsible to ensure that the communities have opened bank accounts.

The funds are administered in the form of National Saving Scheme certificates. SRSP has the discretion to withdraw its own contribution to the school fund if the community reneges on the agreement. This monitoring is fairly standard procedure for SRSP and has been in place since it started the schools project.

At the community level VEC is involved in the monitoring and record keeping of the schools. Formats have been designed to collect monitoring information. Each quarter the VEC send information to the SRSP regional offices monitoring information which is again shared with the Social Sector & Gender Issues section head office, SRSP on a quarterly basis produces both quantitative and qualitative information about the CBS Status.

Community Based School