JIVA designed its accountable education model in response to the belief held throughout the villages that local public schools offered limited value. When JIVA began its programs, the combination of the low level of parental engagement, with students’ limited interest in school, and teachers’ subdued morale indicated that these key stakeholders believed other activities, such as work, were more important than education. The result was manifested in high absence and drop-out rates, very low test scores, and widespread illiteracy.
JIVA developed a holistic, grassroots approach to expose students, parents, and teachers to attainable quality education and to help shift the communities’ perspectives on the value of education. To address these systemic challenges, JIVA’s accountable education initiative aims to build the capacity of key stakeholder groups, reduce deterrents to attending school, and increase incentives to learn.
