When we set up five schools in Noida and Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh we had estimated an average enrollment of 25 children per school based on a preliminary survey; however, we have learned more children attend our schools and the number of students continues to grow.

Our schools are established on the site of rag-picker operations where parents consider it a convenient location to educate their children. As a result, an increasing number of parents are sending their children to school. Currently, we are experiencing an average enrollment of approximately 35 children per school but that number varies daily, dipping down to 30 and reaching up to 40 children each day. Before expanding our school network to other localities, our objective is to stabilize enrollment at existing schools.

The increase in the number of students is a positive outcome and suggests that we are meeting an important need in rag-picker communities as well as helping to break the illiteracy cycle.

For more information on schools for rag pickers, click on the link: https://idsusa.orgprojects/education/primary-education-for-rag-pickers/).