UN Forum on Minority Issues Intervention by Dr. Vimal Thorat, National Convenor, AIDMAM (National Platform for Dalit Women’s Rights- NCDHR, New Delhi, India 15th Dec. 08 ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN EFFECTIVE EDUCATION STRATEGY Madam Chairperson, members and colleagues, Thank you for this opportunity. AIDMAM is a national platform for Dalit women’s rights and is a member body of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights. I bring before you the concerns on the education of Dalit children, particularly in the areas of teacher training and monitoring. 1. Teacher Recruitment and Training We find that by and large teachers reflect the same attitudes and practices against minority students as what is prevalent in the larger society. In the case of India, attitudes towards Dalit, Adivasi and Muslim children are anti-social and stereotypical. We recommend that: a. The teacher’s attitudes, beliefs and track record on caste and other minority issues be a matter of verification while recruitment. b. Teacher training curriculum includes awareness and sensitization on issues of minority culture, knowledge and contribution c. Teachers actively encourage minority students to participate in special programmes like Meena Manch, children’s parliament, sports, festivals d. Incentives be provided to schools and teachers based on Dalit and other minority students satisfaction and achievements in the school 2. Need for Monitoring In the case of India we have some provisions to help Dalit and other minority children to access education. These include: a. Pre-matric and post matric scholarship b. Free books and uniforms c. Reservation in higher education d. Budgetary provisions under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and Tribal Sub Plans Students and parents report on the lack and poor implementation of these provisions. They are not provided in time, they are not allocated in sufficient quantity