Viveka Tribal Centre for Learning (VTCL)
Started in 1988
Hosahalli, H D Kote
Building Human &
Social Capital
Family Centric
Approach
Community centric
partnership
Integrating tribal development through education
Developing Human Capital through Education
VTCL strives for equitable education for children from indigenous tribal groups. In over 3 decades, the residential school has seen a steady increase in admissions, parent engagement, continuing higher education and delayed marital age in girl students pushed
to 18 years and beyond.
Abutting the Bandipur & Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in H D Kote, Mysuru, the joyful & familiar learning environment in open classrooms (Kuteera) is both culturally appropriate and contextually relevant. Introduction to basic technology, agriculture, arts and sports are integrated into the learning curriculum.
Balanced nutritious meals derived from native produce and eating habits ensure physical development of the children studying in the school.
Community-wise representation of students at VTCL
(All tribes listed under Scheduled Tribes of India)
Jenu Kurubas are given the status of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTGs) by the Govt. of India.
(Data as on 17th Aug 2021)
Getting back to the school after the Pandemic
The schools may have opened, but getting children back to school wasn’t easy after the pandemic in the tribal areas of H D Kote in Mysuru District. To fill a one and a half year gap, VTCL teachers took every form of transport, from a bike to a boat, from walking to hiking, visiting many tribal hamlets (hadi) abutting the forest area, and talking to parents to send their children back. It was particularly hard for higher grade students, who had started working in the fields with their parents and didn’t want to come back.
Teachers from VTCL took on a reverse pilgrimage to reduce dropouts and undo the loss caused by the pandemic. The story of Bhavya & Bharath from Seegur Hadi is one of the many stories where education won against all odds.
VTCL’s 8th standard strength has doubled to accommodate students from Ashrama Schools having classes upto 7th standard
Localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and in our case, SDG 4, aiming to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” requires solutions that work at a grassroot level.
All VTCL students are continuing education after SSLC in 2021-22
Towards Making VTCL a NEP Demonstration School
Karnataka’s Education Minister Sri B C Nagesh visited VTCL campus in 2021. He interacted with the students & the teaching staff. Addressing the students, he stated that VTCL is a model school that imparts education among tribal students & imparts values & life skills.
Equal Partnership in Education
The conglomerate of parents from different tribes eagerly wait their turn to extend an amount of INR 800. A contribution encouraged by VTCL administration to no substantial economic benefit. But something greater in the form of equal partnership in education of their children. A move to ensure dignity in development by seeing the tribal parents not as beneficiaries, but customers, entitled to quality on a professional level.
