India: Access to Schooling in Ambakach Project Gender Analysis Alexandra Anda November 7 th 2006

Ambakach Poor rural isolated village in India Population: 1,003 Female: 449*Male: 554 Children Primary School Age (6-10 years old): Girls: 111Boys: 127 Main Livelihood: Farming Farmers: Poor soil quality (one annual crop cycle) - Water Scarcity - No production during dry season Livestock very important *Rao Introduction  In South Asia less women than men due to unequal access to healthcare

School Incentives Program 1983 Gujarat chief minister 10 villages in extreme poverty Purpose: boost enrollment and attendance rates for children in primary schools Incentives: - uniforms - textbooks - slates - classroom equipment - midday meals - allotment of food grains

Grain Allotment 80% monthly attendance record Girls: 10 kg corn per month Boys: 8 kg corn per month Uniforms, slates and books not received regularly

Informal Schooling: A Viable Alternative Formal schooling not reaching poor and disadvantaged Children discover their own learning style and pace Community women and men trained to teach - Men farmers - Women full-time housework Schedule: 7 – 9 pm Classrooms: houses or village buildings Local vocabulary and speech adopted Individualized materials  meet interests and needs Few materials  low cost and sharing values

Results 4, 242 students in three years Girls: 3,238 Boys: 1,004 Dropout Rate: 28%  lower than national average in formal schooling Women pressuring for alternatives  Reading centers (libraries)

Conclusions Incentives Program is reaching males more than females Female dropout remains high Most rewards going to males Who benefits from grains? Ignoring: Higher income for women  well-being for entire family