Category 1: Street children who do not attend school currently or have completely missed formal school education.

One batch of children who come to ISHWAR belong to this category. Teachers employed by us, teach and train the children according to their age-group and government prescribed syllabus with the aim to admit them back into formal school after passing the mandated written examination.

At an average, ISHWAR is successful in admitting 40-60 children into formal schooling at government / private schools in the area.

ISHWAR’s centre at Neb Sarai, New Delhi, is an out-reach initiative to cater to village / slum children who grow up roaming the streets, taking to petty work, and many-a-times indulging in criminal activities. The aim was to take education to the children, rather than to expect them to come to a distant education centre. Since the children have missed their age of admission into formal school, they cannot get admitted without intervention.

This is the flagship education programme of ISHWAR and is designed to cater to the poor sections of society – particularly children of illiterate parents, labourers, daily-wagers etc. Children as young as 4-5 years, upto the age group of 15-16 years attend the NFE programme. ISHWAR is socially-inclusive and does not distinguish between the normal and the differently-abled children, or their beliefs and faith.

Category 2: Children who are admitted into school but need tuition help and remedial classes to continue with their formal education.

Children who are admitted into formal school after studying at ISHWAR’s centre, require help with their home-work, remedial classes, tuition etc., else they run the risk of falling out of school. This is even true as their illiterate parents are unable to help them in their studies or even spend money to hire tutors.

The second batch of children who attend ISHWAR’s centre belong to this category, resulting in a negligible drop-out rate from school.

Category 3: Young girls who are forced to miss school due to their responsibility to look after their younger siblings.

ISHWAR is extremely sensitive to the education of the girl-child; as an uneducated girl of today will probably lead to an illiterate family tomorrow. Education of the girl-child is therefore a focus-point at ISHWAR.

 Objectives of the NFE programme:

• Mainstreaming Street Children – Prepare and admit street children into formal schools by first imparting basic education.

• Focus on the Girl Child – Address the special challenges faced by girls who are often burdened with sibling care and household chores.

• Basic Education & Life Skills – Teach children hygiene, community living, and essential literacy skills.

• Remedial Support – Provide after-school help to children with homework, especially when no family member is literate enough to guide them.

• Encouragement & Motivation – Inspire more street children to join schools by showcasing success stories of those already enrolled.

• Parental Counselling – Guide parents on the importance of health, hygiene, and literacy for their children’s growth.

• Reducing Dropouts – Support children at risk of leaving school by providing academic and motivational assistance.

• Holistic Development – Blend education with extra-curricular activities like music, dance, sports, and outdoor picnics for well-rounded growth.

Strategy Adopted

• Target Area – The outreach programme focuses on villages in and around Neb Sarai, Delhi.

• Identification of Children – Social workers conduct house visits to identify children who are not attending school or have dropped out due to various reasons.

• Parental Counselling – Parents, especially of girl children, are counselled and encouraged to allow their children to join the NFE programme.

• Education & Training – Children are provided with basic education and preparatory training to help them clear the entrance tests for admission into government schools.

• Admission Support – ISHWAR assists parents in completing all formalities related to their child’s school admission.

• Follow-up & Monitoring – Social workers remain in regular contact with schools to ensure consistent attendance and progress of the enrolled children.

• Nutrition Support – Children attending the programme receive a small daily mid-day snack/meal (such as biscuits or soybean) to support their health and encourage attendance.

Reducing School Dropouts through Remedial Support

Children admitted into formal schools after studying at ISHWAR’s centre often require homework support, remedial classes, and tuition to keep pace with their peers. Without this assistance, many risk dropping out, since their parents are usually illiterate and unable to guide them—or too poor to afford private tutors.

To address this gap, ISHWAR runs a second batch of classes at its centre, dedicated to supporting such children. This sustained academic help has resulted in a negligible dropout rate, ensuring that children not only enter schools but also continue their education successfully.