School for Grannies… Ever heard of it? There is a school by name, Aajibaichi Shala which operates exclusively for old age woman of age over 60. This school was started by Yogendra Bangar, a teacher along with a charitable trust on the International Women’s Day March 08, 2016. After one year, the school now consists of 30 students (60 to 90 years old) and a sole teacher.
The classes in Aajibaichi Shala starts in the afternoon, after the women complete their regular household chores. The classes are on for two hours and six days a week. A hut was built for this purpose in the shade of a big mango tree. In order to give a feeling of wearing a uniform, all the women including teacher wear bright pink fuchsia sarees. Currently, they are focusing on teaching the Marathi alphabets, numbers and to write the names. At the end of the day, the Grannies are seen doing their homework along with their grandchildren.
Why School for Grannies?
Literacy rates are steadily increasing in India. But the gap between the male literacy ratio and female literacy ratio is higher, especially in the rural areas. About 79% of rural men are literates, while only 59% of rural women are literates. Through Aajibaichi Shala, the old women who did not get the opportunity to go to school, are becoming literates now.
