Sneha School, Diyun, Arunachal Pradesh:

Introduction: In the year 2003, SNEHA started a Primary School at Diyun, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India to provide value-based education to the Chakma and Hajong children. Presently 361 students are getting quality education here from KG to Class VII (aged 4 to 13).  The school will be upgraded upto senior secondary level with each passing year.

History of Sneha School: Our conviction that only quality education can bring lasting positive socio-economic changes in the society and empower the underprivileged communities, we started this School in 2003 with 109 children from 6 to 9 years of age for the most politically deprived Chakma and Hajong children of Arunachal Pradesh. Since the opening of the school in 2003, Sneha School has come a long way overcoming all odds and obstacles. The school has been upgraded upto class VII this session 2007-08 adding one class every year. The beneficiaries have increased from 109 to 361 children at present. As we provide good quality education with extra curricular activities now children from other communities have also started enrolling in SNEHA School.

	Course and Curriculum: The school follows Central Board of Secondary Education syllabus and N.C.E.R.T textbooks for all classes. And by next year we are planning to get affiliation under Central Board of Secondary Education. Equal importance is given to games and sports and co-curricular activities for all round personality development of the children.

Teacher student ratio and Teaching Faculty: Teacher student ratio is 1:36 so that we can give maximum care and attention to each and every child. At present 16 efficient teachers are working with us and they teach the children with love, affection and missionary spirit. They are well aware with the strengths and weakness of the children. 

Language and teaching methodology: The medium of instruction of the school is English. However, equal emphasis is laid on Hindi. A third language i.e. either Sanskrit or Assamese is also taught from class VI. Children are taught in English and Hindi only. We give much attention to the development of communication skill in English and Hindi.

Our teachings are highly interactive and students are given opportunities to develop their own intellect. Teachers provide equal attention to each students but special care is taken for those who are academically weak by taking extra classes. Regular and appropriate home assignments are given to the students to generate an educationally rich environment in their domicile.

The Library and Reading Habit: We have more than 1000 titles of children’s book and reference books for teachers in our small library on different subjects such as science, poetry, fiction, literature, nature, geography, computer, travelogues, history, culture etc. We also have latest books such as Harry Potter etc in the library.

We also have CDs on different subjects and themes like morality, friendship, patriotism and nationalism for children.

House System: To develop healthy competition, leadership qualities, responsibility the children have been divided into four Houses in the name of values such as Sincerity, Honesty, Dutifulness and Hard work   

Each house has a teacher as House Master to supervise and one House Captain and vice captain from the students to control and lead the House. Each house take the responsibility of the school turn wise for one week i.e. cleaning/sweeping the school compound, class room, assembly ground, water flower garden, organizing morning assembly etc.

Games and Sports: Keeping in mind the adage 'that all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy', we at SNEHA give equal importance to games and sports. Hence sports like football; volleyball, skipping, and badminton have been introduced to make the children physically and mentally fit.

Co-curricular Activities: In order to foster a healthy spirit of competition among the students, decision making skill and to ensure complete and all round personality of the children, we have introduced the following healthy and intelligent recreational activities like: Quiz Competition, Debates and Declamations, Dramatics, Singing, Dancing, Fancy Dress, Recitation, Musical Instrumental, Story Telling, Essay writing competition, Mono Acting etc.

Awards and prizes: We appreciate meritorious students every year by awarding them prizes to motivate them to excel.

Parent teacher meeting: Children spend only few hours in the School. They live their maximum time at home with their parents. Parents influence the behaviour of the children more than anybody else. Moreover, parents are the first teachers of a child. So we conduct regular parents-teachers meeting. Interactive sessions are held between the parents and teachers for the development of the child. Knowledge on parenting, health, education and on various socio-economic issues is disseminated in the meeting. A parent teacher association has been formed this year for the welfare of the children. 

Future Plans:

• SNEHA wants to develop a proper infrastructure by building well-ventilated and airy classrooms to provide an environment conducive to learning. It will also have well equipped physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, a computer centre for the students and the staffs, a large assembly cum drama hall and a creative room for Music, Drama, and Art etc.
  
  
• To get affiliated under Central Board of Secondary Education.

Problems faced in the project:

Although we are providing quality education with such minimum funds we are facing some genuine problems in realizing the goals of the project completely.

1.  We are still running the school in temporary building made of thatch and bamboo. It is very urgent to construct the school building at least upto first floor to start a proper school.
   
   
2. We are not able to pay decent salary to our teachers and other staffs.
   
   
3. Health care Fund for Sneha school children and staff.