Management of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas in Andhra Pradesh: The Perceptions of the Stakeholders

Abstract

The introduction of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in the educationally backward blocks of the country poses challenges for the mobilisation, retention and educational activities of students. The children admitted to these schools are different from those of mainstream schools. The socio-economic background of the girls has been indicating that they are child labourers, never enrolled, dropout from schools with, risk-ridden family backgrounds, single parents, orphans, migrant workers, labour families, Below Poverty Level (BPL) and from educational accessibility-denied areas. The Special Officers (SOs), who are appointed for the management of KGBVs in terms of evolving strategies for building awareness and mobilisation of girl-child-labour to admit, retain, and motivate them for education and reaching the goal of educational attainment. In course of interaction with the SOs, it was found that in discharging their responsibilities, they face several constraints such as service conditions like contract jobs, low-level of salary, and management issues. Despite having several issues, the SOs have been working to achieve academic goals.