Research Assignments currently underway

 

These are some of the studies that Bodh is currently doing and may be expected to provide an idea of the nature of work currently in progress or likely to be undertaken in 2005. This is, however, not an exhaustive list and other work is being done.
	This is envisaged as being undertaken in two steps. During the first step, a detailed household listing and description of the educational status of children in selected slums of Jaipur is to be undertaken. Data collection for this has been done, and data is in the process of being computerized.  During the second step, an in-depth analysis of the educational provisions at preschool and elementary school level will be undertaken. Together these two are expected to provide a comprehensive picture of the educational provisions availed. Objectives: 1.      To provide an understanding of the educational facilities available to children in the schools covered by the Jan Bodh program. 2.      To investigate the current enrollment, attendance and achievement levels of children in the areas of intervention. 3.      To understand existing social realities at the individual, family and community levels and the effect the same has on education of children and adolescent girls and care and education of preschoolers. 4.      To investigate the extent of community involvement in the area of education in the areas of intervention. 5.      To provide a framework for fine-tuning inputs and developing possible practical strategies as part of the Lok Lahar program.   Some of the preliminary findings of the first phase of the study are as follows:
Consolidation of Baseline Procedures	The recent trend on the part of Bodh in undertaking a series of Baselines and educational assessments creates the need for consolidating and systematizing the framework keeping in view Bodh's notions of appropriate, equitable and quality school education. The specific objectives of the exercise are:   1.          To define benchmarks of quality keeping in consideration Bodh's notion of quality and equity. 2.          To refine techniques of investigating quality of school processes and outcomes (cognitive and non-cognitive). 3.          To streamline and establish procedures for conducting baseline studies. 4.          Prepare a general framework for undertaking baseline research compatible with Bodh's notion of quality school education.   This will result in drafting of quality indicators of effective primary school education. Undertaking effective and scientific baseline investigations will simultaneously result in undertaking initiatives of mainstreaming quality. At the same time, it will also facilitate and promote organizational capacities of organizations identified.
Study of Child Rearing Practices	A detailed investigation of the child rearing practices pertaining to the health, survival, stimulation and psychosocial care of children under six years of age will be undertaken in a variety of contexts. Simultaneously, aspects pertaining to availability of familial, community and other social supports will be looked into. An attempt will be made to investigate the effect these have on child development and characteristics. Finally, the effect that preschool experience of various types has on aspects of child development and general family and community functioning will be looked into. The present study is expected to yield a wealth of information pertaining to child rearing in the area where Bodh intervention is in place, assisting with the development of a contextual and culturally appropriate intervention. It would, at the same time, act as an important tool for advocacy in the area of ECCD provisions.   Study Objectives: 1.      To investigate the child rearing practices of children under six years of age in the urban and rural areas where Bodh Shiksha Samiti is in operation. 2.      To investigate the effect of preschool experience on child development in the above areas. 3.      To draw implications for the development of a contextual and child friendly ECCD program.
Detailed educational survey of CCF project areas	The present study intends to provide an in-depth understanding of the entire population residing in the villages where CCF-India is operating in its North Zone. A household survey of the entire village, a description of the educational (up to the Upper Primary level- both private and Government), Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and primary health care facilities is intended. An estimated 130 villages across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are expected to be covered under the same.
Sociological profile of the adolescent girls in the urban and rural areas of the programme	Bodh’s work with the adolescent girls in the rural and urban areas has been continuing, yet the level to which these girls have accessibility to education and other opportunities needs to be systematically studied. The understanding of the sociological indicators pertaining to geographic location of residence, occupation and educational background of the family, caste, and average marriageable age for girls in the area, level of education and health facilities available has to be developed for the furtherance of intensive intervention with this group. The profiling of this group could also help identifying the areas where there specific strategies need to be designed.   Study Objectives: 1.      To assess the present sociological position of the adolescent girls in the area 2.      To investigate the extent of educational opportunities they have access to. 3.      To understand the areas where possible intervention with them can be designed in the Kishori Samoohs.
Analyzing and Documenting Bodh's Perspective on Community Involvement. Part-I (Rural Bodhshalas)	Like its companion study in the Urban area, the present investigation will document the initiatives taken by Bodh to involve the community in its educational programme. This will enable the documentation of a model of community involvement that will be disseminated further and the experiences used to build a more comprehensive model. More specifically, the study intends to   a.      Define the forms and levels of community involvement - parental and of other community members. b.      Document strategies of community involvement and the nature and functions of the structures used for implementing the strategies. c.       Analyze and compare the nature of experiences of working in the community in different contextual and socio-cultural contexts. d.      Identify the indicators of community involvement. e.      Create measures to gauge the depth and extent of community involvement. f.        Set standards of community involvement for a school to acquire the status of 'Community owned school' or 'Community school'. g.      Arrive at a general framework of community involvement which can partially/wholly be applicable/adaptable in varying situations.
Tracking of students passed out from Bodhshalas	The present study is intended to ascertain the educational or vocational careers of children after the completion of the Bodh program. This would assist in developing an understanding of the long-term effect of the Bodh program on children’s lives and investigate the extent to which the Bodh intervention has resulted in a lasting change. This exercise is intended to result in a permanent mechanism of tracking of students over the years and the establishment of a forum of children who had passed out of the Bodh schools.   Objectives 1.      To ascertain the education and vocational status of children who had passed out of the Bodhshalas 2.      To document the effect that the Bodh intervention had on their lives. 3.      Developing mechanism for tracking ex Bodhshala students 4.   Formulating an alumni forum of students passed out of Bodh Shiksha Samiti