A 16-year-old did not take her winter holidays last year and was in school completing her Class X syllabus.
Her home, a one-room house that doubles as the kitchen and the bedroom and everything else that she shares with four other members, barely had space to study.
On Friday, she wrote her first board exam paper. She came back to her school and told her teacher: “Ma’am. bhalo hoyechhe (the paper went well).”
A school that has been working with first-generation learners — who reside on the streets or in slums — is sending its first batch of Class X examinees for board papers.
Future Hope School got the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliation two years back.
The first batch of 19 girls and boys have started writing the examination at a different centre, which is the norm for CBSE.
The organisation that started in 1987 has been supporting children right up to college for over two decades. They have been supporting students in various private and government schools and helping them continue their education.
Despite the CBSE affiliation, Future Hope promises to remain a free school that would continue to serve those who are from financially deprived families.
Some of the students are day scholars and the rest boarders.
“It is a great feeling of pride and belonging for the children of our school to appear for the board examination,” said Sujata Sen, CEO, Future Hope.
“We cater to the most vulnerable. We take children who have never been to school irrespective of their age. We believe everyone should have access to education and even if a child is starting late, we take them in and fast-track them with support,” said Sen.
Some of the students live with their grandparents and some have single parents. Most of their parents are daily wage workers or domestic help.
The two years of the Covid pandemic have been exceptionally difficult for most of them. The school supported them through the period with ration.
“Our children respect the opportunity that they are getting. They understand that the journey to break the poverty cycle begins with education,” said Sen.
To discourage children from taking up jobs, the school supports their families with aid.
The next step for the school is to apply for Class XII recognition so the students can appear for the school leaving examination.
Future Hope also gives students option to appear from the National Institute of Open Schooling.
For years, the children of Future Hope have excelled in sports, especially rugby.
The board affiliation promises to open new vistas for them.
