Pratham Education Foundation

Never too Cool for School

We continue our "Never Too Cool for School" series with this second story. Keep coming back to know more about these phenomenal women who have decided to go back to school after dropping out many years before. 

Pratham Open Schools (POS) are centres for girls that have dropped-out of school. The below success stories are of women who had dropped out of their regular schools and have now joined a Pratham Open School (in this case in Jaipur) to complete their education. While children and adults in school and university endlessly complain about academic pressure, some women we met have shown relentless dedication to educate themselves. Kindly read below for the remarkable stories of women who have had the conviction to overcome deaths of loved ones, financial crisis, dissaproval of family members etc. and have rejoined school. 

Meet Sanjida. (Read more about Sanjida below) 

Sanjida's story teaches us to be more appreciative of the opportunities we have had. I know it made me stop, and thank my lucky stars that I had a peaceful and uncomplicated schooling - peppered with silly high school drama. Sanjida was  always a diligent student. But in 1992, when the Hindu Muslim riots in Jaipur started, Sanjida's house was burned down. It was a incident that would forever shape the lives of Sanjida and her family. This communal riot threw her family into a deep financial crisis. After struggling to make ends meet, Sanjida finally dropped out of school around 18 years ago, to help her family. Her impressive journey of trials and tribulations will make anyone think and learn. 

Sanjida has now re-joined a Pratham Open School after 18 years and is thoroughly enjoying studying again. 

Well done Sanjida for making us more humble and be more thankful for the opportunities we have had.  

(Pictures and information courtesy Vaibhav Bharadwaj, a promising young photographer studying in the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi Univarsity)