Public education in Peru is offered at a prohibitive cost. For many families who can barely find enough money for food, school is a luxury rather than a necessity, and several children are left aside. SKIP works hand-in-hand with disadvantaged families to get and retain as many children as possible in the education system, thus giving them the chance of a better future.
1. Selection of families
Throughout the year, we stay in touch with schools and other institutions in the community in order to identify children who are not enrolled in school. Months before school starts, our social workers assess each potential family. We are looking for children of responsible parents who are not in school because the costs are beyond the economic reach of their family.
2. Contract
Parents have responsibilities to their children and to SKIP, and must fullfill them as part of the agreement that we sign with them. SKIP’s engagement is to pay for registration fees, school materials and uniforms while providing support and workshops throughout the year. The agreement also notes the parent’s responsibilities to:
- Ensure the child attends school, extra classes and workshops while showing good behaviour, paying attention and completing all homework.
- Attend all the workshops and meetings organized for their own and their child’s benefit.
- Keep SKIP constantly informed of any change in family circumstances or of any problem that may affect the child’s studies.
3. School for parents
Just like their children, many parents never had the chance to realise their right to an education. To help them, as well as to help us in selecting families, our social workers and psychologists hold the "school for parents", a series of workshops about the importance of education and parental responsibilities. The classes are participative and parents are welcome to bring up any topic they would like to be covered. Recent topics have included: the importance of education, how to educate a child, hygiene, nutrition, self-esteem and domestic violence.
4. Extra classes
As most of our children have either never studied before or were not able to study last year, we give them classes to bring them up to the level expected for their age. Therefore, they will be able to follow their classmates and cope with their new environment. Once the child is attending school, we still provide extra classes because many parents are unable to provide academic support. If a child needs special attention or shows serious learning problems, a tutor will give one-to-one academic and moral support.
5. Enrollment in school
SKIP only works with parents who take their responsibilities. After several months of activities with the families, we can see who wants to participate and who does not. Before the school year starts in March, we make our final selection and enroll our children in the school closest to their home. SKIP covers the following costs:
- Registration fees
- Fees for the upkeep of the school
- School uniform – shoes, trousers/skirt, shirt/blouse, socks
- School materials for a year – paper, notebooks, stationery
6. Monitoring
Once a week, social workers visit each child’s school to monitor attendance and academic progress. Teachers indicate which areas need reinforcement so that SKIP’s teachers or tutors can help the child during extra classes.
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