>> Azim Premji's speech at the launch of the Learning Guarantee programme in Gulbarga
     on 23rd November 2002

Commissioner of Public Instruction Mr. Baligar, officers of the education department of the Karnataka Government, other dignitaries gracing this occasion, ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour for me to be present here today for the launch of the Learning Guarantee programme, a joint initiative of Government of Karnataka and Azim Premji Foundation.

I distinctly remember on June 13, 2001 when we entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Karnataka, I had expressed our confidence in the Government on its ability to constructively collaborate for the Universalization of Elementary Education in the country. Our experience of working shoulder to shoulder with the Karnataka Government for the past over 18 months has abundantly proven the same to us. We have always felt encouraged by the support and enthusiasm of the Government for the programmes being designed and implemented to further the cause of Universalisation of Elementary Education.

A few minutes ago Mr. Baig has described the programme in sufficient detail. Therefore I would not speak much on the learning guarantee programme itself except to say that with the active support and enthusiastic participation of the schools and teachers, the Programme has a potential to become one of the pioneering models to deliver guarantee of learning in the school.

I would like to reiterate that across India, there are over 50 million children out of school. While most state Governments are driving the enrolment of these children with a lot of vigour and success, the drop out rates of the children in standard 1 to 4 are still at 42% and those of children in 1-8 standard are at an alarming 58%. Unless we address the issue of retention of these children inside the school, all our efforts will be like filling water in a broken earthen pot. The only way the children could be retained is when they find their existence inside the school gainful, relevant and beneficial for life.

The most powerful way of achieving this is to ensure that the children in the schools learn in an interesting and joyful way and achieve the learning competencies commensurate to their grade - so that the children themselves feel the difference and be the ambassadors for those children who are outside the school. The competencies acquired by the children should convince their parents and the community at large to actively participate in the process of universal enrolment and retention.

We at the Azim Premji Foundation believe that the way to achieve sustainable Universalisation of Elementary Education is to guarantee learning inside the school.

Almost all our Programmes in the northeast Karnataka are therefore addressing the issue of learning in the school.

We realise that the ownership of the schools, the head teachers, the teachers, the school development committee and the Government officers who are responsible for facilitating this, is extremely critical.

Today, the seven districts in the northeast Karnataka seem to be accounting for over 50% of the out of school children in Karnataka. There are a number of problems that this region faces, ranging from poor rainfall to absence of industrial development.

It is our belief that as a team, we will be able to sow the seeds for changing this picture dramatically by ensuring that every child in the region is in school and is learning. Our joint concerted efforts can change the quality of talent and their future in this region. As adults of this country, we owe it to our children of the next generation that we provide them an opportunity to compete on the platform of equal knowledge.

Only if we ensure all our children are well educated and well informed can we grow into a more prosperous and successful nation. I am not looking at education within the narrow confines of SSLC, PUC, or graduation. I am looking at the child acquiring necessary knowledge and life skills to be able to apply thought and to make informed choices in their life. I am looking at every child successfully completing the basic education to be able to decide what professional course or career to take in future. I am looking at every educated child contributing to the decisions of the family on the basis of knowledge. Decisions related to areas such as cleanliness, health, nutrition and sanitation. I expect that such educated children will have higher capability to shoulder the responsibilities of their family. I am looking at the huge advantage that children will derive through education. Whether as a farmer, a teacher, a carpenter, a housewife, the educated person will use her knowledge to make informed decisions. More importantly, such children will definitely ensure the next generation learning in the schools.

I understand that the Karnataka Government has communicated to all its education functionaries to achieve the following goals:

1. Every child must be in the school
2. Every teacher must be in the school and
3. All initiatives must have the involvement of the community in a mass scale

I must say that I am very impressed with this simple and yet very powerful articulation of the above goals. It has all the necessary ingredients that are required to make the Universalization of Elementary Education process successful in the state.

With the launch of the Learning Guarantee Programme, we have just refocused on the result that is expected - that is - the "Learning by the Children". It is obvious that the Programme will achieve expected results if the teachers, school development committee members and above all the children put in their best.

I wish the programme all the very best. I wish every school in North East Karnataka participates and I will be very happy if every school successfully qualifies as a Learning Guarantee School.

My last words are for the children. I want each one of you to be in school, attend school, enjoy every day in school and learn. Only education can secure a happy life. Grab the opportunity to study and do this joyfully.

I thank Mr. Baligar, Mr. Jaganatha Rao and his dedicated team of Joint Directors, Deputy Directors, the Block Education Officers and all the team members at every block and cluster resource center.

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