Title: SSIUNICEF Action Research Project Evaluations and Findings Mumbai, 20012003
1SSI-UNICEF Action Research ProjectEvaluations
and FindingsMumbai, 2001-2003
- Urvashi Shah, Ph.D.
- Research Consultant
2ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
- Background
- Project Demonstrating the how of inclusive
pre-school education in a community setting. - Research Boundary Six demonstration sites in
socially disadvantaged areas (N6000HHs) - Target group 3-5 year old pre-school children,
marginalized by disability/ gender/ poverty - (N 600)
- All children with disability included (N 51)
3The Research Brief
- Macro-Qualitative Study
- (Research Agency- A.C. Neilson)
- Comprehensive listing of demographic and
disability details from all households. - Tracking attitudinal changes, if any, in the
community- in families, local government
officials, community leaders.
4The Research Brief
- Micro-Qualitative Study
- (Research Consultants, Shah and Sovani)
- Tracking changes, if any, in a sub-sample of the
children - Listing of barriers to inclusion and assessing
shifts, if any, in these due to the intervention.
5EVALUATIONTracking.. Whom?
- The Sample
- Pre-school children (Disabled and Non-Disabled)
- Parents of these pre-school children
- Other families in the community
- Local leaders
- Social Workers
- Policy Makers
6EVALUATIONTracking. How?
The Method
7 EVALUATION Tracking
What?
Independence Skills
Social Skills
Well Being
Emotional Skills
Motor Skills
Creative Skills
Communication Skills
8EVALUATIONThe Research Tool
- Development Scales
- Social Development Scale
- Emotional Development Scale
- Communication Development Scale
- Creativity Development Scale
- Motor Development Scale
- Functional Skills of Independence Scale
9EVALUATIONTracking What?
Classroom Activities
Physical Space
Barriers to Inclusion
A.M.Ws Behaviour
Parents Attitudes
10EVALUATIONThe Research Tool
- Barrier to Inclusion List (BIL)
- Schedule A Physical Space
- Schedule B Teachers (AMW) Behaviour
- Schedule C Parents Attitudes
- Schedule D Classroom Activities
11Seven Steps of Analysis
Graphs
Summary score sheet
Av. score for each scale
Scores for each factor
Descriptors for each factor
Individual child summary
Log notes
12EVALUATION Tracking..Where?
- The Six Sites
- Multi-lingual, Multi-religious communities
- Pucca houses, poor sanitation, toilet and water
facilities outside the house
Jawahar Nagar
PMGP,Dharavi.
Nargis Dutt Nagar
Mukund Nagar
Murti Nagar
Mahim
13EVALUATION Tracking... Where?
- The Seventh
Site-I.C.D.S - Four visits
- Average of 3-4 children present
- No educational activities.
- Focus on
- Nutrition-food distribution
- Health records- immunization and ht./ wt.
records. - Tracking expectant mothers and providing
nutritional inputs - Liaison with government hospital for medical care
for children
14FINDINGSSocio Demographic Data
- Profile of an average family in the community
- Mother Illiterate/Primary education, Housewife.
- Father Secondary education, skilled/unskilled
worker, temporary jobs. - .Average total earnings lt Rs. 4000/- p.m.
CWE in 20 of the HHs are illiterate.
On the whole, 78 of the HHs are below Rs 4000
MHI, of which 38 are earning below Rs. 2500 p.m.
15FINDINGSSocio Demographic Data
- Profile of an average family in the community
- Type of family Nuclear
- Number of rooms per household 1
- Number of people per household 5
- Number of children per family 3
HH are mostly single family nuclear type.
Average family size is 5. There is overcrowding
of members as they mostly stay in one room only.
16Findings Qualitative DataParent Speak..
- Theme Education
- High motivation despite adverse circumstances
- Education a must, several benefits.
- Times are changing now for any job, however
small, in any situation, education is a must - At school they learn to talk well, they will
have respect and not be humiliated like us - .
17Findings Qualitative Data Parent Speak.
- Pro-inclusive education, perceived benefits for
all - Children must learn to live together without
differences from an early agecaste-creed,
ability-disability, boy-girl all these
differences will disappear and that is how it
should be - My child will be motivated to work hard when she
sees the disabled child overcome challenges, she
will learn values of love and helping othersthe
disabled child will learn by imitation and
improve
18Findings Qualitative DataParent Speak.
- .. but some reservations about the
intellectually disabled child. - The mentally challenged children should be in
special schools. Watching him our children may
start behaving in a funny way
19Findings Qualitative DataParent
SpeakPost-Intervention
- Specific improvement in children with disability
- Inclusion is possible even for children
- with intellectual disabilities.
- Positive changes in children-hygiene, manners,
learning, communication and overall confidence.
20Findings Qualitative DataOther Voices in the
Community
- School principals, slum lords, social workers,
health department officials. - Overall positive towards inclusion but concerned
about implementation. - Lack of infrastructure and training perceived as
key barriers. - Government officials felt support from NGOs
important and nutrition a must in any such
program.
21Qualitative ImpressionsIn the classroom Before
Training
- Teacher/AMW
- Difficulty managing
- the class, chaos and confusion
22After Training
- Effectively addressed different needs
23After Training
- Variety of activities, structure, time-table
- Confident, caring and firm
24After Training
- Parents satisfied and full of praise
25Qualitative ImpressionsIn the classroom..
- Peer Interactions
- Inclusive behaviour
- Unusual Pairings between Disabled
- and Non-Disabled
26Qualitative ImpressionsIn the classroom
- Children Observations at End-Term
- Disabled children confident and participative
- All children loved to come to school
-
27Findings Across SitesQuantitative Data
28Findings Across SitesQuantitative Data
29Findings Across SitesQuantitative Data
30Findings Across SitesQuantitative Data
31Findings Across SitesQuantitative Data
32Final Impressions
- All children gained at multiple levels in the
inclusive nursery - No negative impact on Non-Disabled children
- Disabled children gained more- the realization of
a dormant potential - Acceptance by Non-Disabled children
- Community accepting of inclusion
- Community workers can be trained to teach
effectively in an inclusive set up - Human resources v/s Material resources
- Effective teachers are the key to bring about
change even in the most challenging, deprived
environments.
33Outcome
- A model for Inclusive nurseries in impoverished
communities that can be replicated and up-scaled
across the country. - Manuals demonstrating the how of inclusion in a
community - An effective teacher training program for
training community workers.
34An idea whose time has come
- Let children be children
- Together