Al Masayea, p.10, (30-7-2008)

Are you Indian?

By: Fawzi Tag-Eddeen

Until recently, you would get angry if someone called you an Indian. India is very advanced in electronics. It succeeded to go beyond the stage of holding conferences and symposiums to the stage of implementation and practical application. It managed to overcome its harsh circumstances, overpopulation and high poverty rates. It launched successful education programs the most important of which is the "Learn and Earn" program. It is an implementation of a project by Gandhi, the Indian leader, aiming at teaching an individual a certain craft that he may be able to earn his living. The program is aimed essentially at the poor who cannot afford education per se as their basic need is to overcome hunger.

The program was applied in Madhya Pradesh, one of the poorest Indian states. The program made use of the production centres of the primary and secondary schools and colleges.

Under the program, out-of-school and non-enrolled students were trained to produce chalk, mats and jute. Financial incentives were given to them. The better the quality of their production, the larger the incentive they got. So, learning and earning were linked. To generalize and expand the experiment, the program was condensed and the course duration was shortened to 2 years instead of 5, in order to qualify the students for standard education if they wish to join it. The program brought in profits in excess of 15% of its capital. The products were sold at competitive prices achieving self-sufficiency.

Soon, the program gained momentum. The students were not forced to join it. They would join it if they wished. Moreover, the program asserted the values of learning as a means of earning, respecting manual work and encouraging team work.

Would education officials in Egypt manage to generate new job opportunities through establishing new types of schools? Is not it high time for us to become Indians?