Justus Mendes sdb
NASHIK, JULY 3, 2008: There is a ring of jubilation in the air here at Divyadaan – and for a very good reason too! Exactly a year ago we young Salesians from Divyadaan got involved in the ‘Schools of Excellence’ programme at Jawhar and Mokhada. This programme involves providing study support in English, Maths and Science to the tenth standard students in 15 village schools in these two talukas. While the Brothers conduct English classes on Sundays, local teachers have 
been appointed to conduct Maths and Science classes on weekdays. During this past year it did call for a lot of sacrifice to travel sixty kilometres every Sunday and then walk to the villages, sometimes for well over an hour. Teaching these villages children was no easy affair too. It was difficult and quite discouraging at times, yet we never lost hope. Our efforts have certainly paid off and the recently declared SSC results clearly bear witness to it! There has been a remarkable improvement in the results of almost all the schools that formed part of this programme. For example, in 2007 only 24 percent of the students in the Hirve village school had passed, this year 70 percent have been successful. Similarly, the pass percentage in the Jhap school has jumped from 46 to 92, in Aase it has gone up from 60 to 80, in Chas it has moved from 51 percent to 78 percent. Likewise, Dabosa has recorded an improvement, going from 70 percent in 2007 to 80 percent this year, Sakur from 62 to 81 and Walvanda from 50 to 66. But the icing on the cake is Nehale which has soared from 60 percent last year to 100 percent this year! While we compliment these students we also happily raise a toast to ourselves! And yes, we are not resting on our laurels. The new academic year has begun and we are back in the field. Last Sunday, June 29, we retraced our steps to these remote villages and began our first session with the new tenth standard students. It’s tough, but it’s also fun and we are just loving it!
been appointed to conduct Maths and Science classes on weekdays. During this past year it did call for a lot of sacrifice to travel sixty kilometres every Sunday and then walk to the villages, sometimes for well over an hour. Teaching these villages children was no easy affair too. It was difficult and quite discouraging at times, yet we never lost hope. Our efforts have certainly paid off and the recently declared SSC results clearly bear witness to it! There has been a remarkable improvement in the results of almost all the schools that formed part of this programme. For example, in 2007 only 24 percent of the students in the Hirve village school had passed, this year 70 percent have been successful. Similarly, the pass percentage in the Jhap school has jumped from 46 to 92, in Aase it has gone up from 60 to 80, in Chas it has moved from 51 percent to 78 percent. Likewise, Dabosa has recorded an improvement, going from 70 percent in 2007 to 80 percent this year, Sakur from 62 to 81 and Walvanda from 50 to 66. But the icing on the cake is Nehale which has soared from 60 percent last year to 100 percent this year! While we compliment these students we also happily raise a toast to ourselves! And yes, we are not resting on our laurels. The new academic year has begun and we are back in the field. Last Sunday, June 29, we retraced our steps to these remote villages and began our first session with the new tenth standard students. It’s tough, but it’s also fun and we are just loving it!