Schools Managed by the Community

Village Education Committees

The Night Schools of Tilonia are administered by the Village Education Committees. Each Committee has an average membership of 15-30 villagers including 5-10 women. The Committees have their bank accounts at the nearest rural bank. Two of its members along with one member from the College staff operate bank accounts. The Committees are responsible for day-to-day administration of the 250 night schools, purchase of teaching/learning material, repairs and maintenance of night school buildings and disbursement of honorariums to night school teachers.

Children's Parliament

The Children's Parliament controls and supervises the night schools. It is based on the belief that giving power to the people who have a vested interest in the school is the best way of ensuring its success -- as well as making the children aware of political structure and processes.

The Children's Parliament since its inception in 1993, has had five terms of office. The Parliament has elected representatives from night schools, situated in four districts of Rajasthan, covering a geographical outspread of 700-800 square kilometres, from semi-arid to the desert regions.

Most of the Prime Ministers have been girls, simply because more girls attend the Night Schools than boys.

Meet Bhagchand Dev, one of the former Prime Ministers of the Children's Parliament >