Give the amazing gift of
education, teach in India
Teach and assist in rural government schools in Jaipur
-
Duration
1-24 Weeks -
Accompanied age
5+ -
Minimum age
17+ -
Start dates
1st & 3rd Saturday -
From
£160
-
Duration
1-24 Weeks -
Accompanied age
5+ -
Minimum age
17+ -
Start dates
1st & 3rd Saturday -
From
£160
India teaching volunteers
Quicklinks
Come and help teach English and other vital subjects in our partnering government run schools in Jaipur. This is your chance to fully immerse yourself within the local community and to give the amazing gift of education to the many underprivileged children that attend every day.
As a developing country, India is plagued with extreme poverty and social discrimination. Many children in and around Jaipur live on very little and it is thought that around 30% of the Indian population live below the poverty line.
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Background to the teaching programme
Just over a decade ago, India joined a range of countries that mandated free, compulsory education for all children aged between 6 and 14 years old. The Right to Education Act (RTE) that came into effect in 2010, detailed the minimum norms for schools, set out strict teacher-child ratios, prohibited unrecognised schools from practice and advocated against donation fees for admission.
Whilst greater emphasis on enrolment levels and infrastructure standards have had some of the desired positive effects, this transformative legislation did not live fully up to the expectations. Research conducted over the last few years has shown a major area of concern is the loss of focus on providing quality education. On top of this, the ability to provide equal educational opportunities in India for all has not been achieved. Poorer and more rural communities do not have the same access to resources and standards as those in the more 'elite' cities and regions.
Although the RTE Act has set out more favourable requirements that need to be provided, when comparing the education system to more developed countries in the area, you will see that a lot more work and emphasis on the system is urgently needed. Most class sizes still go far beyond suitable capacities with most schools being highly understaffed with not enough resources to provide everyone with a quality education.
Due to the above, The Mighty Roar supports two government run schools located in the more unprivileged and rural suburbs of Jaipur. These schools that we are desperately trying to help were created because of the RTE act, however, suffer from a severe lack of funding. As a result of this, students are kept in dilapidated classrooms, often being taught in large groups on the floor with little to no educational materials. With a lack of structure and not enough teaching staff, many children can be found roaming the buildings unsure of what to do and with little chance of exploring their creativity and hidden talents.
By assisting in the government schools, you and fellow volunteers can help play a major role in overcoming these issues. We urgently need your time and dedication to have a positive impact on the lives of the children from some of the poorest communities. By providing masses of energy, enthusiasm and creativity, the children will gain confidence and will receive the quality of education desired to reach their full potential in later life.
Where will I be volunteering?
Jagatpura Government Primary School - Located in the Jagatpura slums, the school provides vital free education and meals to the surrounding community. There are a total of 346 students that are registered at the school, but the number that actually attends on any given day fluctuates. This is because the children will sometimes need to stay at home to look after younger siblings while their parents work or also go out and work themselves. The children are split across 10 classes and are aged between 3 and 15 years old.
The school is in desperate need of funds to help reconstruct the classrooms, with many just being empty rooms and bare brick walls. We are hoping with some of the funds raised by volunteers, we can help start purchasing building supplies, tables, chairs, materials and other resources to ensure the school offers a better and more appealing environment to be taught in.
Asia Circle Government Primary School - Asia Circle is also located in the Jagatpura slums, providing vital free education and meals to the surrounding community. Although the school is in better condition, there is still a severe lack of teaching and educational resources. There are a total of 290 students that are registered at the school, but as above, the number of students that actually attend on any given day fluctuates. The children are split across 9 classes and are aged between 3 and 15 years old.
Sunrise Public School - Located in a densely populated urban area in Jaipur, Sunrise Public School teaches English and other core subjects to 450 children. Although the school is not free to attend, the charges imposed are much lower than other typical schools in the area, with the hope to cater for lower income earning families. There are 12 classes with an average of 35 children per class. Despite the school charging fees for admission, there are still insufficient resources and teaching methods lack interaction and engaging methods.
What is my role?
Your main role while in India will be to provide a more creative approach to teaching, while ensuring everyone gets the one-to-one attention required.
You will be assigned to several classes throughout your day at the school, where you will be in charge of leading your own classes to around 30 children. At first you are more than welcome to assist the local teachers and you’ll find that your confidence grows quickly and you will soon be leading your own classes! You will prepare lessons in your free time ensuring you follow the syllabus set out, so you have a clear structure to each class.
In a country with an ever-growing demand for employees that speak English, your help teaching will have a positive impact on their future. Your primary role will be to improve the children’s English, but this isn’t the only thing that you can teach! You will be involved in teaching other school subjects such as science, maths, history, art, physical education and geography.
Not only this, but you will have the freedom to explore other exciting areas of learning, and you don’t need to just stick to the classroom all of the time! Get active and teach through dance, music and play! If you know the basics of any other languages – great! You can teach those too!
During your time in India, there will be plenty of opportunities to teach and learn around every corner. You will be working with teachers with a wealth of knowledge about Indian culture so take the opportunity to ask questions and learn about everything from traditional cooking to religion.
Spending your time with the children is such a rewarding experience and you will gain many lovely connections that it will be hard to say goodbye! This worthwhile programme will give you a unique insight into Indian culture and is a great opportunity for you to truly make a difference.
What will a typical day look like?
Although no day will ever be the same, there is a basic schedule as set out by the school on both a daily and weekly basis. You will typically be volunteering from Monday to Friday between 10am to 3pm during the winter months and 8am to 1:30pm during the summer months - although this can vary depending on your placement, the weather and other factors.
During your first few days at the school you will get to bond with the teachers and children and learn about how the school runs. After gaining some confidence and being able to plan alongside the local teachers, you will then have the opportunity to lead your own classes.
Although transport is not included within the programme fee, our local team are there to arrange everything with you and ensure you are happy. Both schools are located approximately a 15 minute drive away by car (please budget £1-3 per day).
During the afternoons, we recommend that volunteers come together to plan some activities for the following day. Once finished, you will still have plenty of time to explore everything Jaipur and the surrounding areas have to offer.
Where will I be staying?
During your time volunteering in India you will be staying within our volunteer accommodation in a quiet residential suburb of Jaipur. Everything you need can be found within a short 20 minute drive with large shopping malls that have western restaurants like Pizza Hut and Subway, as well as convenience shops and ATMs. If you are looking for a more local and cultural approach, then you can explore the bustling bazaars and markets where you will have ample opportunity to sample some mouth-watering cuisine and purchase some gifts.
Jaipur is located in the heart of the Golden Triangle and boasts many significant sights including Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace), the Pink City Bazaars and so much more! On the weekends you can also head further afield to walk the crowded streets of Delhi, see the iconic Taj Mahal at sunrise or party on the beaches of Goa.
Other things to consider
Helping on multiple projects - Whilst in India you will also have the opportunity to get involved with our childcare and special needs childcare programmes at no additional cost.
Previous experience or qualifications - Although an advantage, no previous experience is required. As long as you bring lots of positive energy and are enthusiastic then your efforts and time will contribute massively to the school and local community.
Online TEFL course - Although not mandatory, we encourage volunteers to prepare as much as possible for their English teaching placement abroad. In the build up to your trip, you can make the most out of your time by completing an international accredited online TEFL course - costing £159. This course will not only prepare and provide the necessary skills allowing you to help further when volunteering, but can also be used to gain employment around the world.
Resources and donations - Resources can be very limited on our programmes in India and we would really appreciate any additional support that can be provided. It would be amazing if you could bring any materials associated with your project, including pens, paper and anything else you think will aid your time on the programme.
Weekends and free time - You will have every weekend off from volunteering and this is the perfect time to explore everything this amazing country has to offer. You are more than welcome to simply relax around the accommodation and enjoy the nearby attractions, but most volunteers will use this time to travel and see the country. Further down this page you will come across many suggestions and ideas on where you could go. Alternatively, if you are looking to see as much of the country as possible during this time, travel with other volunteers and be accompanied by one of our local team members, then you may be interested in one or more of the organised weekend trips we run.
Further Information
