Sanjhi Sikhiya: Transforming School Education in Punjab

It was serendipity that I saw Simranpreet ‘Manu’ Oberoi’s post on facebook and connected with him. I have been hearing about the good work of Sanjhi Sikhiya from other NGOs like Involve and Samarthya with whom I have been associated, so I grabbed Manu’s offer to have a chat.

My appetite was whetted by what I heard from Manu and we agreed that I should visit their ‘karmabhoomi‘ which I did on 5th and 6th March by visiting Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar.

It was also a nostalgic visit for me. It rekindled memories of Punjab when we had stayed at Amritsar during 1981–83 and I had travelled to most cities in Punjab on official business.

I was happy that I could understand almost everything in most of our conversations we had in Punjabi with teachers, govt officials and Sanjhi Sikhiya team members. Also, generous hospitality of Punjabis has remained unchanged. I had almost whole month’s quota of sweets and sweet tea!

While I have been dabbling in social sector and would have interacted with more than 50 organisations in last 10+ years, I found Sanjhi Sikhiya to be an unusual organization having unusual people. Why do I say so?

It wants to remain a small organization while creating a greater difference and impact. It has decided to deeply focus on just one state — Punjab. It strongly believes in and practices building depth before width. It has developed strong processes and have declined quite a few offers that did not align with its mission.

It believes that school transformation cannot take place unless community takes co-ownership of the ‘sarkari’ school and it becomes ‘gaon ki pathshala’ or in Punjabi — ‘pind da school’. African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child. But seeing it in action was a privilege. A forum named Gram Sikhiya Sabha in which all the stakeholders — Panchayat members, community, parents, teachers etc. meet together to brainstorm how the school problems can be resolved. I hope to see it in action after the elections.

It has been my nitpicking brain’s complaint about the social sector that they do not collaborate enough. Sanjhi Sikhiya is also exceptional in this regard. They have been openly welcoming organisations and people with who they can learn and partner. Punjab Education Collective is one of the most successful collaboration projects.

Nitpicker that I am, another grouse is not enough of long-term thinking which requires long term commitment. I admire Sanjhi Sikhiya leadership who have committed 30 years of their life to Punjab.

During my visit, I met many inspiring people.

Ms Jeevan Devi HT of Panjkoha school who, in spite of being a single teacher in the primary school, has successfully experimented with peer teaching-learning and did not allow learning of any grade to suffer. She taught roller skating to primary school kids who won prizes in state championship after learning it herself. She regularly takes her students on outstation tours and picnics. There is more. Her husband Susil Kumar is HT in another govt school. They also do an exchange programme for students between these two schools. In Jeevan Devi’s dictionary, words like ‘impossible’ and ‘I give up’ do not exist!

Jeevan Devi & Sanjhi Sikhiya team

Another amazing person is Mr Davinder Pal Singh BPEO of Chamkaur Sahib, Ropar who regularly visits every school he is responsible for and seen by the school teachers as an enabler and not an unhelpful boss! I saw his tender heart when he specifically requested and took us to visit the school for special children where teachers shared the efforts made in making these children self-reliant and economically independent.

Davinder Pal Singh BPEO with teachers and Sanjhi Sikhiya team

With special children

I also interacted with Ankit and Ishpreet from the leadership team and many others including fellows to understand the challenges on the ground. There are many challenges similar to other states — different challenges in different areas. Caste issues still vitiate the school atmosphere in some schools, low teacher strength continues to be a challenge, infrastructure is inadequate in many schools, increasing migration is resulting in drop in the number of students in some rural schools and many more.

In my last conversation with team members and fellows, I asked my favourite question to them. This (again) is a bee in my bonnet. I asked how many parents of Sanjhi Sikhiya team members are able to explain to their relatives and neighbours what they do and how many of them are proud of what their children do!

With Sanjhi Sikhiya Fellows

I was not surprised to hear that this is a problem. I think that this is a challenge for people in social sector. How do we shift the mindset of our own family members? It is youth of India who, through their energy and enthusiasm, can bring about the change. How do we, as a society, emotionally and economically support, encourage and cheer them?